M. Von Schlippe et al., Cisplatin neurotoxicity in the treatment of metastatic germ cell tumour: time course and prognosis, BR J CANC, 85(6), 2001, pp. 823-826
In order to ascertain the incidence and prognosis of cisplatin-induced neur
otoxicity in testis cancer patients undergoing combination chemotherapy, 29
patients with metastatic disease were studied prospectively. Assessments i
ncluded enquiry into neurological symptoms, measurement of sural nerve sens
ory action potential and conduction velocity, and vibration threshold in th
e left big toe. At the end of chemotherapy (3 to 4 cycles) only 3 out of 26
(11 %) patients had paraesthesiae, but 3 months later the proportion rose
to 65%. Resolution occurred in the majority over the ensuing 12 months so t
hat only 17% had persistent symptoms. None of the 11 patients treated with
3 cycles of chemotherapy had persisting symptoms. Vibration thresholds show
ed a significant deterioration during chemotherapy (P = 0.032), further det
erioration in the 3 months following chemotherapy (P = 0.009) and significa
nt improvement between 3 and 12 months after chemotherapy (P = 0.038). Sura
t nerve sensory action potentials and conduction velocities were unhelpful.
(C) 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.