Pre-treatment biopsychosocial predictors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy trajectories in people with breast cancer
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Purpose
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects many people receiving taxane treatment for breast cancer. Symptom trajectories vary, with some recovering, and others experiencing persistent, or delayed worsening (coasting) symptoms. The prevalence and predictors of these trajectories remain unclear. This study identified the prevalence and biopsychosocial predictors of CIPN persistence, improvement, and coasting within three months post-treatment.
Methods
This secondary analysis included participants treated with taxanes for stage I-III breast cancer who completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group–Neurotoxicity-4 (FACT/GOG-NTX-4) at baseline, post-chemotherapy, and three months later. A minimally important difference (MID) from baseline on the FACT/GOG-NTX-4 defined persistence, improvement, coasting, and no MID-CIPN (below the MID threshold at each assessment) trajectories. Baseline assessments included self-reported pain/well-being, sensory, balance, and lower limb physical functioning measures, and sociodemographic and treatment data were collected.
Results
Among 102 participants (51.57±11.24 years), persistence occurred in 34.3%, improvement in 25.5%, coasting in 6.9%, and no MID-CIPN in 33.3%. Compared to no MID-CIPN, older age (OR=1.120; 95%CI: 1.026–1.222), higher expected pain (OR=1.630; 95%CI: 1.082–2.456), and cold hyperalgesia at the foot (OR=1.130; 95%CI: 1.018–1.254) predicted persistence. Lower fatigue predicted improvement (OR=0.904; 95%CI: 0.845–0.968). No predictors were identified for coasting.
Conclusion
CIPN trajectories are heterogeneous. Age and pre-treatment pain expectations, cold hyperalgesia, and fatigue differentiate patients with persistent CIPN and those likely to improve from those with no CIPN.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
Early identification of individuals at risk for persistent neurotoxicity may support risk stratification and guide targeted supportive care strategies.
