The Relationship Between Peripheral Neuropathy Induced by Docetaxel and Systemic Inflammation-based Parameters in Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: Docetaxel often induces peripheral neuropathy (PN). The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between PN and systemic inflammation parameters, namely the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR).

Patients and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 67 patients with breast cancer who were treated with docetaxel. Thirty patients (44.8%) had received previous chemotherapy including anthracycline.

Results: Overall, 51 patients (76.1%) experienced PN. All the parameters increased with the number of administered courses of docetaxel. In an analysis of patients without previous chemotherapy, those suffering from PN had a significantly higher NLR at the first and third cycles than those not suffering from PN (2.9 vs. 2.0, and 3.1 vs. 2.6, respectively, both p<0.05), and the MLR at the first cycle was also significantly higher in those with PN than in those without (0.18 vs. 0.15, p<0.05).

Conclusion: Systemic inflammation appears to contribute to the occurrence of PN induced by docetaxel.

Keywords: Peripheral neuropathy; docetaxel; inflammation.