Abstract
Background
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of cancer
therapy with few efficacious treatments.
Methods
We enrolled 70 patients with CIPN in a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled,
cross-over trial to determine if photobiomodulation (PBM) ± physiotherapy reduced the symptoms of neuropathy compared to sham treatment. At the
conclusion of follow-up, sham-arm patients could cross-over into a third arm combining
PBM and physiotherapy to determine if multimodal treatment had additive effects. Treatment
included 30 minute sessions 3-times weekly for 6 weeks using either PBM or sham therapy. Neuropathy was assessed using the modified
total neuropathy score (mTNS) at initiation and 4, 8, and 16 weeks after initiating treatment.
Results
Sham-treated patients experienced no significant change in mTNS scores at any point
during the primary analysis. PBM patients experienced significant reduction in mTNS
scores at all time points. Mean changes in mTNS score (and corresponding percent drop
from baseline) for sham and PBM-group patients respectively were −0.1 (−0.7%) and −4.2 (−32.4%) at 4 weeks (p < 0.001), 0.2 (0.0%) and −6.8 (−52.6%) at 8 weeks (p < 0.001), and 0.0 (0.1%) and −5.0 (−38.8%) at 16 weeks (p < 0.001). Patients who crossed over into the PBM/PT-group experienced similar results
to those treated primarily; changes in mTNS score from baseline were −5.5 (−40.6%) 4 weeks (p < 0.001), −6.9 (−50.9%) at 8 weeks (p < 0.001), and −4.9 (−35.9%) at 16 weeks (p < 0.001). The addition of physiotherapy did not improve outcomes over PBM alone.
Conclusion and relevance
Among patients with CIPN, PBM produced significant reduction in neuropathy symptoms.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 22, 2016
Accepted:
November 5,
2016
Received in revised form:
November 1,
2016
Received:
September 5,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
