Prevention of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity by ω-3 PUFAs: A double-blind randomized study of patients receiving oxaliplatin combined with capecitabine for colon cancer. Issue 50 (11th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xinjie; Chen, Haitao; Lu, Yi; Xu, Chao; Yao, Wang; Xu, Lu; Zhang, Runzhe; Zhang, Liping; Yao, Qinghua
• Other Names: Das. Undurti N. section editor.
• Is Part Of: Medicine. Volume 99:Issue 50(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-11
• Subjects: ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids -- chemotherapy -- colon cancer -- oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity -- quality of life; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Geneeskunde; Medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023564
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-7974

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Peripheral neurotoxicity (PN) is a frequent side effect of oxaliplatin treatment, and also is its dose-limiting toxicity. Studies have confirmed that ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) had a neuroprotective effect. However, the efficacy of ω-3 PUFAs on the prevention of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity remains unclear. We assessed the effect of ω-3 PUFAs on the neurotoxicity in colon cancer patients treated by oxaliplatin combined with capecitabine. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 179 patients with colon cancer receiving oxaliplatin combined with capecitabine were recruited, and randomly assigned to take ω-3 PUFAs, 640 mg t.i.d during chemotherapy and 1 month after the end of the treatment or placebo. All patients were treated with chemotherapy for 6 treatment cycles. The incidence and severity of PN were evaluated, and the nerve conduction was measured before the onset of chemotherapy and 1 month after treatment. In addition, the quality of life was also accessed using Chinese version of European organization for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire. Results: The incidence of PN in the ω-3 PUFAs group and placebo group was 52.22% and 69.66%, respectively ( P = .017). In addition, there was a significant difference in the severity of PN between the 2 groups ( P = .017). In terms of motor and sensory nerve conduction, the sensory action potentials amplitude of sural nerve in the ω-3 PUFAs group and placebo group after chemotherapy treatment were (15.01 ± 3.14) and (13.00 ± 3.63) μ V respectively, suggesting there was a significant difference in the 2 groups ( P = .000). In addition, the mean score of the global health-status/quality of life was obviously higher in the ω-3 PUFAs group than that in the placebo group. Conclusion: ω-3 PUFAs seem to reduce the incidence and severity of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity, and improve the quality of patients' life, indicating it is expected to be a potential drug for the treatment of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity.