Leal, A.D., Qin, R., Atherton, P.J., Haluska, P., Behrens, R.J., Tiber, C.H., . . . Loprinzi, C.L. (2014). North Central Cancer Treatment Group/Alliance trial N08CA-the use of glutathione for prevention of paclitaxel/carboplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: A phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Cancer, 120, 1890–1897.
To determine the effectiveness of glutathione for the prevention of taxol/carboplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy
One hundred eighty-five patients were randomized to receive either placebo or glutathione 1.5 mgm/m2 while receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin therapy over 15 minutes immediately before chemotherapy.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
Placebo-controlled, randomized, controlled trial
No differences were reported in neurotoxic symptoms between the groups the week following taxol infusion. In addition, no differences were reported between the groups receiving taxol every three to four weeks. Time to development of at least grade 2 neurotoxicity was higher in the placebo group (p = 0.039).
The results indicated that this was a negative trial and do not support the use of glutathione for neurotoxic symptoms from taxol/carboplatin therapy.
The results of this negative trial showed that glutathione was not effective in patients receiving taxol/carboplatin. Very limited evidence supports effective interventions for preventing or minimizing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Ongoing research is needed in this area.