Impact of Cold Therapy on Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Quality of Life in Patients With Breast Cancer

Background: Taxane drugs frequently produce peripheral neuropathy (PN). Cold therapy to hands and feet during chemotherapy has been effective in reducing PN.

Objectives: The purpose was to compare the frequency and severity of PN and quality of life in patients with breast cancer receiving cold therapy to their hands and feet versus standard of care during 12 weekly paclitaxel infusions with a follow-up at 16 weeks.

Methods: Forty-eight female participants were consecutively recruited and randomized to treatment versus control groups. This randomized control trial used the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Taxane questionnaires to collect data weekly for 12 weeks and at 16 weeks.

Findings: A repeated-measures ordinal logistic model and binomial logistic model showed that patients on standard therapy were three times more likely to develop PN, with a progression toward severe PN, when compared to patients who were on cold therapy. There was no effect of treatment on quality of life.