Adjusting Oxaliplatin-based Chemotherapy Doses May Help Reduce Nerve Damage in Colon Cancer Treatment
A recent French study suggests that tailoring chemotherapy doses based on lean body mass (LBM), rather than standard body surface area, can reduce nerve-related side effects in people being treated for stage III colon cancer.
Lean body mass: the total weight of the body excluding the weight of body fat.
Standard body surface area: total area of an individual’s skin surface.
The study:
The LEANOX trial looked at how different ways of calculating the dose of oxaliplatin (a common chemotherapy drug found in chemotherapy regimens such as FOLFOX) affected nerve damage, also known as oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy. This side effect can cause tingling, numbness, burning, and pain in the hands and feet. The effects can last for months or years after chemotherapy has ended and sometimes the effects can be permanent, resulting in a negative impact on quality of life.
Key Findings:
- People with reduced lean body mass who received LBM-based dosing had less nerve damage:
- 67% had no significant nerve issues after 6 chemotherapy cycles, compared to 42% in the standard-dose group.
- The LBM-based group also had:
- Fewer dose reductions due to side effects,
- Better quality of life, and
- Longer time before nerve symptoms appeared.
- Cancer outcomes (relapse-free and overall survival at 3 years) were similar across all groups – meaning adjusting the dose of oxaliplatin did not reduce treatment effectiveness.
Take-Home Message:
This study suggests that for patients with lower lean body mass, adjusting oxaliplatin doses based on LBM can reduce side effects without compromising survival. This could lead to more personalized and tolerable chemotherapy for individuals with stage III colon cancer.
