# Higher Body Mass Index Is Related to Severe Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Ovarian Cancer: A Preliminary Retrospective Study

## TL;DR

This study found that being overweight is linked to more severe and earlier onset of nerve damage in ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

## Contribution

The study uses the Total Neuropathy Score to objectively link higher BMI with severe chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in ovarian cancer patients.

## Key findings

- Overweight patients had significantly higher Total Neuropathy Scores compared to normal-weight patients.
- Overweight patients experienced earlier onset of neuropathy symptoms.
- BMI had a significant direct effect on neuropathy severity according to causal mediation analysis.

## Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, which is more common in patients with ovarian cancer who are receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin treatment. Although prior studies have explored the association between obesity and CIPN, most relied on subjective grading systems. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between being overweight and CIPN using the Total Neuropathy Score (TNS), a more objective and comprehensive assessment tool. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between being overweight and the onset and severity of CIPN in a cohort of South Korean patients with ovarian cancer who were treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively at a single tertiary hospital in South Korea from March 2013 to February 2022. Included in this study were forty-two individuals who were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer and who had developed neuropathic symptoms following chemotherapy. Patient characteristics, laboratory findings, and disease-specific TNS were analyzed. Results: Overweight patients showed significantly more severe CIPN, with higher Total Neuropathy Scores (TNS; p = 0.019) and earlier symptom onset (p < 0.05) compared to normal-weight patients. Causal mediation analysis also revealed a significant direct effect of BMI on TNS (p = 0.006). However, no significant correlation was found between BMI and TNS using Kendall’s rank correlation, and other neuropathic symptoms or laboratory parameters did not show statistically significant group differences. Conclusions: The study suggests that overweight may be associated with the severity and onset of CIPN in patients with ovarian cancer who are receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy. While the results are preliminary, they underscore the importance of addressing this modifiable risk factor in clinical care. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to inform future therapeutic strategies.