Aim: The aim of the study was to compare two different neurotoxicity scales in grading chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity.
Patients and methods: The study sample consisted of 114 cancer patients who started chemotherapy with vinca alcaloids, platinum derivatives or taxanes. Neurotoxicity was evaluated with the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) and oxaliplatin scales at baseline and after every third chemotherapy cycle thereafter.
Results: Neuropathy was detected in 60%, 55% and 75% at the second, third and fourth visits, respectively, with the NCI-CTC sensory scale and 59%, 55% and 80% with the oxalipalatin scale. Of the patients with grade 3-4 toxicity on the oxaliplatin scale, 23/53 had grade 1, 18/53 had grade 2 and 12/53 had grade 3 neurotoxicity on the NCI-CTC sensory scale.
Conclusion: The oxaliplatin and NCI-CTC sensory scales were comparable in identifying chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, but the oxaliplatin scale more often detected the progression of the symptoms.