Breast cancer treatment-induced peripheral neuropathy: what does the literature tell us about it?

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk factors and effective preventive and therapeutic interventions for the management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer. Methods: The study followed the Preferred
Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. For the search and selection of articles,
the following descriptors were used: “peripheral neuropathy”; “breast cancer”; and “neoplasm”. The period selected for the
search was the last ten years. As inclusion criteria, the articles should be systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses and
randomized controlled studies in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Duplicate articles, letters to the editor, and opinion
articles were excluded. Results: The risk factors identified were neuropathic pain, anxiety, comorbidity, age, and chemotherapy treatment. The preventive and therapeutic interventions used were pharmacological treatment for peripheral
neuropathy, psychological support, and management of neuropathic pain. Conclusion: The most recurrent risk factors
were peripheral neuropathy and anxiety. Preventive and multidisciplinary approaches were fundamental for the management of peripheral neuropathy. Approaches with pharmacological interventions, physiotherapeutic approaches, and
psychological approaches were highlighted.