Cryocompression to Reduce Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Gynecologic Cancer

Use of Cryocompression to Reduce Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Gynecologic Cancer: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of cryocompression therapy on the incidence and degree of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in gynecologic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Subjects will serve as their own controls, and will be randomized to cryocompression therapy on their dominant versus non-dominant hand and foot, with standard of care treatment (no intervention) on the opposite hand and foot. Compression therapy will be performed using commercially available compression socks and disposable surgical gloves, and cryotherapy will be achieved by applying bags of ice to the compression devices. Subjects will complete baseline neuropathy surveys including the Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) -Taxane (FACT-NTX), which includes the sensory subscale of the FACT-NTX. Subjective symptoms will be assessed at baseline, before each cycle of chemotherapy and cryocompression, and one month after completion of 6 cycles. In addition, tactile sensation will be assessed with the monofilament test at baseline and one month after completion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy and cryocompression. The primary outcomes are the proportion of patients with PNQ grade C or higher and decline in tactile sensitivity from baseline based on the monofilament test. The investigators hypothesize that cryocompression will reduce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with gynecologic cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Gynecologic cancer diagnosis (ovarian, cervical, endometrial cancer; adenocarcinomas of likely primary gynecologic origin based on cytology or FNA in conjunction with radiologic impression will be eligible)
• Plan to receive at least 6 cycles of paclitaxel administered every 3 weeks at Duke Cancer Institute. Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a plan for interval debulking will be eligible.
• ECOG performance status of 0-1
• Latex allergy does not exclude a subject from the study. Non-latex gloves will be provided.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Treated with prior neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents
• Baseline diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy such as diabetic neuropathy, or associated with conditions including but not limited to fibromyalgia, cryoglobulinemia and Raynaud's disease.