The Use of Nerve Conduction Study to Evaluate the Effects of Frozen Sock Treatment on Docetaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Prospective Clinical Trial

TL;DR

This study tested if wearing a frozen sock during chemotherapy could reduce nerve damage in breast cancer patients, finding some benefit in one foot.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel method using frozen socks to mitigate docetaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients.

Findings

Docetaxel caused significant motor and sensory nerve damage in both feet over three months.

Frozen sock treatment reduced nerve damage in the right foot compared to the left foot.

Frozen socks did not significantly reduce skin and nail toxicity.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Docetaxel is a cytotoxic agent for the treatment of breast cancer, and its toxicities include peripheral neuropathy (PN). This study evaluated the ability of frozen sock (FS) treatment to prevent docetaxel-induced PN by performing nerve conduction study (NCS). Methods: From October 2017 to October 2018, 48 patients who had invasive carcinoma and were planned for docetaxel treatment every three weeks were evaluated. Patients wore a FS on the right foot, and the left foot was not protected by the FS during docetaxel infusion. Motor and sensory NCS as well as nail and skin toxicities were assessed. Results: The amplitude and velocity of the motor and sensory nerves significantly decreased after three months in both feet. Before and after three months of chemotherapy, the compound motor action potentials (CMAPs) for the right peroneal nerve were 7.64 ± 2.42 and 6.81 ± 2.21 mV, respectively (p < 0.001), and 7.13 ± 2.41 and 5.90 ± 2.24 mV, respectively (p < 0.001), for the left peroneal nerve. Reductions in the CMAP amplitude of the peroneal nerve were significantly lower in the right foot compared to the left foot (−9.58 vs. −16.8, p = 0.043). Application of the FS did not significantly decrease the overall incidence of skin and nail toxicity compared with the left foot during the study period (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Docetaxel induced motor and sensory PN, but the use of a FS resulted in a smaller reduction in peroneal nerve amplification three months after the end of chemotherapy.

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