Objective evaluation of the alleviating effects of Goshajinkigan on peripheral neuropathy induced by paclitaxel/carboplatin therapy: A multicenter collaborative study
- 24 October 2011
- journal article
- Published by Spandidos Publications in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
- Vol. 3 (1), 60-65
- https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2011.375
Abstract
Paclitaxel/carboplatin chemotherapy for cancer (TC therapy) exhibits neurotoxicity and causes peripheral neuropathy at a high frequency, which is difficult to cope with. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of Goshajinkigan, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, for TC therapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. The subjects included in our study were patients with ovarian or endometrial cancer who underwent TC therapy and developed peripheral neuropathy. The patients were randomly divided into Group A, comprising of 14 patients (vitamin B12 treatment), and Group B, comprising of 15 patients (vitamin B12 + Goshajinkigan treatment). The observation period was 6 weeks following treatment initiation, and the evaluation items were as follows: i) the current perception threshold (CPT value) of the peripheral nerve, ii) visual analogue scale for numbness, iii) National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0 grade of neurotoxicity, and iv) a questionnaire on the subjective symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (functional assessment of cancer therapy-taxane). These were compared between the groups and no significant differences were noted in any item. However, CTCAE grade 3 neurotoxicity developed in 2 patients (14.3%) after 6 weeks of administration in Group A, whereas no neurotoxicity was observed in Group B. When the change in the frequency of abnormal CPT ratio at 6 weeks of administration from that before treatment was compared between the groups, the frequency of abnormal value was significantly lower in Group B than in Group A (p<0.05). This suggests that Goshajinkigan inhibits the progression of peripheral neuropathy.Keywords
This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- Preventive Effect of Goshajinkigan on Peripheral Neurotoxicity of FOLFOX Therapy: A Placebo-controlled Double-blind Randomized Phase II Study (the GONE Study)Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2009
- Phase III Randomized Trial of Docetaxel-Carboplatin Versus Paclitaxel-Carboplatin as First-line Chemotherapy for Ovarian CarcinomaJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2004
- A correlative electrophysiologic study of nerve fiber involvement in carpal tunnel syndrome using current perception thresholdsClinical Neurophysiology, 2004
- Measuring the side effects of taxane therapy in oncologyCancer, 2003
- Current Perception Threshold and Sympathetic Skin Response in Diabetic and Alcoholic Polyneuropathies.Internal Medicine, 2002
- Prevalence of Hyperesthesia Detected by Current Perception Threshold Test in Subjects with Glucose Metabolic Impairments in a Community.Internal Medicine, 2002
- Technology review: The Neurometer current perception threshold (CPT)Muscle & Nerve, 1999
- NGF prevention of neurotoxicity induced by cisplatin, vincristine and taxol depends on toxicity of each drug and NGF treatment schedule:: In vitro study of adult rat sympathetic ganglion explantsBrain Research, 1998
- Insulin-like growth factor-I prevents development of a vincristine neuropathy in miceBrain Research, 1997
- Nerve growth factor prevents experimental cisplatin neuropathyAnnals of Neurology, 1992