Photobiomodulation Therapy in the Prevention and Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) in the management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Therefore, the hypothesis is that PBM can reduce the severity of CIPN in cancer patients, increasing the patient's quality of life.

Detailed Description
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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the common complications of cancer treatment and involves paresthesia, numbness and/or burning pain in distal limbs. This condition has a high health impact because it is associated with psychological distress, fall risk, and poor sleep quality. Furthermore, it impairs patients' daily activities and thereby decreases their quality of life. The overall incidence of CIPN is approximately 68% in the first month after chemotherapy. The available evidence for preventive and therapeutic options for CIPN is limited. Therefore, only symptom management based on pharmacological and/or physical therapy is applied with limited success. Our research group showed that photobiomodulation (PBM) has the potential to reduce the development of CIPN in breast cancer patients (unpublished data). PBM uses visible and/or (near)-infrared light at a low power produced by laser diodes or light-emitting diodes (LED) to stimulate tissue repair and reduce inflammation and (neuropathic) pain. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of PBM in the management of CIPN in general.

Official Title
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Evaluating the Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy in the Management of Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy: a Pilot Trial

Conditions
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Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Multiwave Locked System® (M6 laser, ASA srl, Arcugnano (VI), Italy)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Finished one of the following types of chemotherapy: paclitaxel, docetaxel, oxaliplatin, cisplatin, vincristine, thalidomide and/or bortezomib. Diagnosed with CIPN Age 18 years or above Have no documented or observable psychiatric or neurological disorders that might interfere with study participation (e.g., dementia or psychosis) Dutch-speaking Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Taking stable doses of medication on prescription for peripheral neuropathy. Related medications are: gabapentin, pregabalin (Lyrica), nortriptyline, amitriptyline, duloxetine (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine. Severe or unstable cardio- respiratory or musculoskeletal disease Interruption of more than two consecutive laser treatments Dark brown or black skin pigmentation (described as skin type VI in the Fitzpatrick scale)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: PBM1 group<br>The patients allocated to the first PBM-group will receive six PBM sessions of 6 J/cm² over three weeks (2x/week). | Device: Multiwave Locked System® (M6 laser, ASA srl, Arcugnano (VI), Italy)<br>* MLS® Laser M6 is a PBM device that allows the patients to be treated in various positions, either sitting, lying down or at a distance, without risk of contamination. Treatment times are carefully calibrated to deliver the best possible energy dose to the tissue being treated.<br>|
| Experimental: PBM2 group<br>The patients allocated to the first PBM-group will receive six PBM sessions of 8 J/cm² over three weeks (2x/week). | Device: Multiwave Locked System® (M6 laser, ASA srl, Arcugnano (VI), Italy)<br>* MLS® Laser M6 is a PBM device that allows the patients to be treated in various positions, either sitting, lying down or at a distance, without risk of contamination. Treatment times are carefully calibrated to deliver the best possible energy dose to the tissue being treated.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Modified total neuropathy score (mTNS) | The mTNS is a clinically applicable, sensitive screening tool for CIPN. The score ranges from 0 to 24, with a higher score indicating a higher level of neuropathy. | Baseline | 
| Modified total neuropathy score (mTNS) | The mTNS is a clinically applicable, sensitive screening tool for CIPn. The score ranges from 0 to 24, with a higher score indicating a higher level of neuropathy. | End of PBM (three weeks post-baseline) | 
| Modified total neuropathy score (mTNS) | The mTNS is a clinically applicable, sensitive screening tool for CIPN. The score ranges from 0 to 24, with a higher score indicating a higher level of neuropathy. | Three weeks post-PBM | 
| Pain score | The patients' pain due to CIPN will be evaluated by using a numerical rating scale (NRS). The score ranges from 0 to 10, with a higher score indicating a higher level of pain. | Baseline | 
| Pain score | The patients' pain due to CIPN will be evaluated by using a numerical rating scale (NRS). The score ranges from 0 to 10, with a higher score indicating a higher level of pain. | End of PBM (three weeks post-baseline) | 
| Pain score | The patients' pain due to CIPN will be evaluated by using a numerical rating scale (NRS). The score ranges from 0 to 10, with a higher score indicating a higher level of pain. | Three weeks post-PBM | 
| Mobility score | The mobility of the patients will be measured using the six minute walk test. This test measures the distance the patient can walk in six minutes and compares it to the normal value for their age and BMI. | Baseline | 
| Mobility score | The mobility of the patients will be measured using the six minute walk test. This test measures the distance the patient can walk in six minutes and compares it to the normal value for their age and BMI. | End of PBM (three weeks post-baseline) | 
| Mobility score | The mobility of the patients will be measured using the six minute walk test. This test measures the distance the patient can walk in six minutes and compares it to the normal value for their age and BMI. | Three weeks post-PBM | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quality of life score | The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/ Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-NTX) is a validated patient questionnaire to test the quality of life of the patients with CIPN. The score ranges from 0 to 152, with a higher score indicating a lower quality of life. | Baseline | 
| Quality of life score | The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/ Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-NTX) is a validated patient questionnaire to test the quality of life of the patients with CIPN. The score ranges from 0 to 152, with a higher score indicating a lower quality of life. | End of PBM (three weeks post-baseline) | 
| Quality of life score | The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/ Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-NTX) is a validated patient questionnaire to test the quality of life of the patients with CIPN. The score ranges from 0 to 152, with a higher score indicating a lower quality of life. | Three weeks post-PBM | 
| Satisfaction score | The patients' global satisfaction with the PBM therapy will be evaluated using a NRS from 0 (minimum score) to 10 (maximum score). | Baseline | 
| Satisfaction score | The patients' global satisfaction with the PBM therapy will be evaluated using a NRS from 0 (minimum score) to 10 (maximum score). | End of PBM (three weeks post-baseline) | 
| Satisfaction score | The patients' global satisfaction with the PBM therapy will be evaluated using a NRS from 0 (minimum score) to 10 (maximum score). | Three weeks post-PBM | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Photobiomodulation therapy