CRYODERM'S® effects on chemo-induced neuropathy.

In the article, Storey and co-workers (Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom) report a case of painful, carboplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in a 71 year old woman with a four and a half year history of Stage 4 epithelial ovarian cancer.

The woman presented with Grade 3 neurosensory toxicity and complaints of paresthesias, pain, weakness in her hands and difficulty with motor tasks. Amitriptyline 10 mg nightly helped the pain slightly, but she did not tolerate an increased dose of 25 mg.

Her CA-125 (marker for ovarian cancer recurrence) was increasing again, but it was felt that her Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy would likely preclude her from further life-saving platinum or taxane therapy.

The authors treated her with topical application of the CRYODERM's® active ingredient applied over the upper extremities and the skin overlying the corresponding nerve roots. Detailed pain assessment was performed before the treatment, with further assessments 90 minutes after the application, then 2, 6, 10, and 15 weeks later.

Colvin et al (Centre for Neuroscience Research, Departments of Hematology, Edinburgh, Scotland) report a case of severe bortezomib-induced neuropathy in a 69-year-old man with a 39-month history of multiple myeloma. After his disease relapsed, bortezomib was commenced as third-line antimyeloma treatment. Unfortunately, after two cycles of bortezomib, the patient complained of paresthesias, numbness, and “lightning-like” pains in both hands, which did not resolve despite a 50% dose reduction for the third cycle.

A month later, he developed an extremely painful peripheral neuropathy (grade 4) in his lower limbs. The predominant feature was severe burning, with significant sleep disturbance, high levels of distress, and reduced general function, such that he was virtually bed-bound. Bortezomib was therefore discontinued. Treatment for neuropathic pain with traditional systemic agents was limited by significant adverse effects.

The patient was treated with CRYODERM's® active ingredient topically. It was applied to the lower limbs and to the skin over the lumbosacral region of the spine corresponding with the affected nerve roots, with a detailed pain assessment before the treatment, 90 minutes after treatment, and then 2 weeks later.

Treatment of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy with one of CRYODERM's® key active ingredients allowed continued life-prolonging treatment with good clinical response and no adverse effect!