Peripheral neuropathy, onycholysis and health-related quality of life in womens with breast cancer treated with taxanes. Prospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND //Peripheral neuropathy and onycholysis are adverse events produced by taxanes in breast cancer that persist even after the end of treatment and negatively influence quality of life. The objectives of the study were to describe these side effects and the degree of involvement and relating them to the drug doses received. METHODS // Prospective, cross-sectional study of in 50 womens dignosed of breast cancer, treated with docetaxel and paclitaxel in Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet in Zaragoza (Aragon, Spain). CTCAE v.5.0 scale and Semes Weinsten test were used to evaluate peripheral neuropathy and onycholysis. ECOG scale was performed to measure the health-related quality of life. Study variables were evaluated before-during treatment and 1 and 6 months after finish treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi 1.2((R)). For the relationship of the qualitative variables, the chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Mc's test were used. Nemar and the Odds Ratio test. Effects were considered significant if p<0.05. RESULTS // 43 subjects were included. During treatment the 9.8 presented motor neuropathy and 12.2% sensitive neuropathy, 37.2% onycholisis in upper extremities and 39.5% in lower extremities (chi(2)=11.3; p<0.001 / chi(2)=13.0; p<0.001) and 38.1% a health related quality of live limited in excessive activities (chi(2)=10.3; p=0.001). Post-treatment evaluation the 20.9% presented motor neuropathy and 32.6% sensitive neuropathy (chi(2)=3.57; p=0.059 / chi(2)=6.23; p=0.013), the 86% onycholisis in upper extremities and lower extremities (chi(2)=6.07; p=0.048 / chi(2)=10.1; p=0.006) and 58.5% a health related quality of live limited in excessive activities (chi(2)=8.47; p=0.014). 6 month later, the initials parameters were not recuperated. CONCLUSIONS // Taxanes have a negative impact on the health-related quality of life in patients, even 6 months after finishing treatment due to the peripheral neuropathy and onycholysis that they cause.