ultrasound for the detection of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy

Conditions: Gastrointestinal Cancer; Colorectal Cancer

Summary: this pilot clinical trial studies how well ultrasound works in detecting oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. ultrasound may work better in diagnosing and detecting neuropathy in gastrointestinal cancer patients treated with the chemotherapy drug called a oxaliplatin.

primary objectives i. to compare tibial motor nerve ultrasound cross-sectional area between oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients and historical data among healthy adults. secondary objective i. to compare sural sensory nerve ultrasound cross-sectional area between oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients and historical data among healthy adults. ii. to determine if the above changes in nerve cross-sectional area correlate with nerve conduction study changes in the same oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients. iii. to determine if the above changes in nerve cross-sectional area correlate with changes on a self-reported neuropathy scale (qlq-cipn20) in the same oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients. iv. to determine if the above changes in nerve cross-sectional area correlate with intraepidermal nerve fiber density changes on skin biopsy in the same oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients. exploratory objectives i. to assess activated mast cells in skin biopsies in oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients in relation to severity of symptoms and above findings. ii. to assess serum inflammatory markers in oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients in relation to severity of symptoms and above findings. iii. exploratory cohort (oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy, oipn) objectives iv. to compare tibial motor nerve ultrasound cross-sectional area between oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients and historical data among healthy adults and oipn patients v. to compare sural sensory nerve ultrasound cross-sectional area between oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients and historical data among healthy adults and oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients vi. to determine if the above changes in nerve cross-sectional area correlate with nerve conduction study changes in the same oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients vii. to determine if the above changes in nerve cross-sectional area correlate with changes on a self-reported neuropathy scale (qlq-cipn20) in the same oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients viii. to determine if the above changes in nerve cross-sectional area correlate with intraepidermal nerve fiber density changes on skin biopsy in the same oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy patients

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * gastrointestinal cancer * colorectal cancer (any stage) * previously or currently receiving oxaliplatin -based chemotherapy. * clinical symptoms of peripheral neuropathy noted in medical record and suspected to be secondary to oxaliplatin -based therapy. * ability and willingness to understand and sign an informed consent. exclusion criteria: * self-reported or documented history of pre-existing peripheral neuropathy prior to initiation of oxaliplatin chemotherapy. * unable to provide history.