Abstracts

Introduction

Today, cancer is considered a major public health problem in developed and developing countries, conceptualized as multifactorial pathology and classified as a chronic degenerative disease that affects thousands of people annually(¹1 Herr GE, Kolankiewicz ACB, Berlezi EM, Gomes JS, Magnago TSBS, Rosanelli CP, et al. Avaliação de conhecimentos acerca da doença oncológica e práticas de cuidado com a saúde. Rev Bras Cancerol. 2013;59(1):33-41.). According to the National Cancer Institute Jose Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA)(²2 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde; Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva. Incidência de câncer no Brasil: estimativa 2014 [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: INCA; 2014 [citado 2014 jan. 20]. Disponível em: http://www.inca.gov.br/estimativa/2014/estimativa-24042014.pdf
http://www.inca.gov.br/estimativa/2014/e... ) there are an estimated 580,000 new cases of cancer in 2014 valid for 2015, data from the National Day Against Cancer and the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The most prevalent types of cancer in the Brazilian population are: skin cancer not melanoma (182,000), prostate cancer (69,000), breast cancer (57,000), colon and rectum cancers (33,000), lung cancer (27,000) and stomach cancer (20,000). Thus, it can be noted that the types of cancers in studies are those that occur more frequently worldwide(²2 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde; Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva. Incidência de câncer no Brasil: estimativa 2014 [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: INCA; 2014 [citado 2014 jan. 20]. Disponível em: http://www.inca.gov.br/estimativa/2014/estimativa-24042014.pdf
http://www.inca.gov.br/estimativa/2014/e... ).

Conventional treatments currently used for cancer include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. New therapeutic modalities have been developed, such as targeted therapies that seek to reach only cancer cells. Chemotherapy is the administration of chemical substances, alone or in combination with other drugs that work at different stages of the cell cycle in order to treat the disease systemically(³3 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde; Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva. Ações de enfermagem para o controle do câncer: uma proposta de integração ensino-serviço. Rio de Janeiro: INCA; 2008. Bases do tratamento; p. 369-556.).

Chemotherapy generally affects not only cancer cells but also destroy normal cells, as both these cells (cancer and neoplastic cells) follow the same stages of the normal cell cycle. In the case of neoplastic cells, abnormal cell proliferation occurs facilitating tumor growth. Some chemotherapeutic agents are intended to work specifically on cell cycle division phase, preventing the division and growth of cell number or by blocking the process, although they may also destroy cells that have been divided. Thus, these drugs are more effective the earlier they are administered. It is known today that rapid growing tumors are more sensitive to the action of drugs, which results in cell death due to the large number of cells that are in the dividing process(⁴4 Mohallem AGC, Rodrigues AB. Enfermagem oncológica. 2ª ed. São Paulo: Manole; 2007.).

Researches show that chemotherapy has been a mainstay of systemic cancer treatment, but there are studies that point to the adverse effects of drugs, which bring various adverse effects to patients. Among the most common we may mention: nausea and vomiting, fatigue, alopecia, neurogenic pain, diarrhea, constipation, integumentary system changes and neurotoxicity(⁵5 Bonassa EMA, Santana TR. Enfermagem em terapêutica oncológica. 3ª ed. Rio de Janeiro: Atheneu; 2005.).

Peripheral neuropathy is one way of presenting neurotoxicity; which is the deterioration of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), that is, the degeneration of the nerves that carry information from the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body, besides conducting the sensitivity of the body. Any degeneration of the PNS affects the functions of nerves that are fundamental to the human being; peripheral neuropathy distorts and may terminate the mutual information between the CNS and the extremities of the body(⁶6 Afonseca SO, Silva MAC, Giglio AD. Abordagem da neuropatia periférica induzida por quimioterapia. Rev Bras Med. 2010;67(n.esp):20-5.).

There is wide number of neuropathy categories, each with its special characteristics such as: established symptoms, evolution and prognosis. The symptoms come from the affected nerve, being autonomic, motor or sensory(⁷7 Martin LGR, Silva MDP. Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuroparhy: a literature review. Einstein. 2011;9(4 Pt 1):538-44.).

Peripheral neuropathies are caused by chemotherapeutic agents which have varying degrees of toxicity, depending on the type and binding of used drugs, administration time and cumulative dose(⁸8 Driessen CM, Kleine-Bolt KM, Vingerhoets AJ, Mols F, Vreugdenhil G. Assesssing the impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity on the quality of life of cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20(4):877-81.). It may be restricted to the use of antineoplastic agents, and often essential reduction of the dose being administered, and in some cases, discontinuation of treatment due to neuropathy degree(⁶6 Afonseca SO, Silva MAC, Giglio AD. Abordagem da neuropatia periférica induzida por quimioterapia. Rev Bras Med. 2010;67(n.esp):20-5.).

INCA briefly classifies the degrees of peripheral neuropathy in Grade I: decrease in reflexes and light paresthesia; Grade II: decrease in sensitivity and intermediate paresthesia; Grade III: intense decreased in sensitivity and unbearable paresthesia; and Grade IV: absence of reflexes and sensitivity(³3 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde; Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva. Ações de enfermagem para o controle do câncer: uma proposta de integração ensino-serviço. Rio de Janeiro: INCA; 2008. Bases do tratamento; p. 369-556.).

As described, peripheral neuropathy manifestations are associated with the nerve injury which can harm the patient momentarily or after a long period. Among the most common symptoms associated with neuropathy are: muscle weakness, painful cramps, twitching, muscle atrophy, bone degeneration, changes in skin, hair, nails and sensory and autonomic changes(⁷7 Martin LGR, Silva MDP. Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuroparhy: a literature review. Einstein. 2011;9(4 Pt 1):538-44.).

It is observed that peripheral neuropathy is a serious and significant neurological adverse effect of chemotherapy(⁹9 Cavaletti G, Marmiroli P. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2004;3(6):535-46.), so it must be monitored from the first symptoms, considering that it may worsen during continued treatment(⁷7 Martin LGR, Silva MDP. Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuroparhy: a literature review. Einstein. 2011;9(4 Pt 1):538-44.).

Thus, the objective of this study was to review and synthesize the knowledge of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies (CIPN) used in anticancer treatment, seeking evidence for improving care to cancer patients.

Methods

We used the integrative review method, through studies of national and international literature. Integrative review involves analysis of research, providing scientific basis for decision making, improving the results obtained in clinical practice, and prospects for expansion of knowledge in specific topic, and help to fill gaps identified in previous studies. The integrative review allows the use of several types of studies to evidence a field of study(¹⁰10 Polit DF, Beck CT. Essentials of nursing research: methods, appraisal and utilization. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006. Using research in evidence-based nursing practice; p. 457-94.).

This method has well defined development stages, such as: problem identification/research topic and the rationale for the review, search of the scientific literature with prior establishment of inclusion and exclusion criteria to point and organize primary research on the problem/topic, categorization/organization/data collection, using a standard form to extract information that will be important to analyze the retrieved studies, assessment/analysis of the collected data, presentation and comparison of results/interpretation, presentation of the review/synthesis of knowledge and, finally, conclusion(¹¹11 Armstrong D, Bortz P. An integrative review of pressure relief in surgical patients. AORN J. 2001;73(3):645-74.-¹²12 Whittemore R. Combining evidence in nursing research: methods and implications. Nurs Res. 2005;54(1):56-62.).

Studies were selected according to the following inclusion criteria: primary studies investigating strategies and interventions related to the prevention, minimization and management/treatment of CIPN and which included the following chemotherapy treatment: Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, Oxaliplatin and Carboplatin, in the format of scientific research, national and international, published in Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Exclusion criteria were: scientific studies regarding peripheral neuropathy, which were not related to chemotherapy, published in languages other than those established in the inclusion criteria, qualitative studies, literature reviews and case reports.

The search was conducted in May/2013 in the electronic databases Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Medical Literature Analysis (PubMed/MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, Bibliographical Index Spanish Health Sciences (IBECS). For publication purposes, the search was extended including latest research results, not delimiting the period. In the search, we crossed the following descriptors from the Health Science Descriptors (DeCs) and MeSH: doença do sistema nervoso periférico (peripheral nervous system diseases), quimioterapia (drug therapy), neoplasia (neoplasms) and neuropatia periférica (peripheral neuropathy) connected by the Boolean operator AND. The main question established for this review was: What are the available evidence in the literature regarding interventions used for the prevention, reduction or treatment/management of peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy in cancer patients?

Searching the databases, 76 studies were preselected; after reading all the titles and then abstracts, 15 primary studies were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Studies found in IBECS database were excluded because they did not fulfil the inclusion criteria; the studies found in LILACS and Cochrane databases were not counted because they were duplicated by PubMed/MEDLINE and, since the search occurred primarily in the latter databases. Data collection was performed using the proposed instrument, developed and validated by Ursi(¹³13 Ursi ES. Prevenção de lesões de pele no perioperatório: revisão integrativa da literatura [tese doutorado]. Ribeirão Preto: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo; 2005.).

The final sample consisted of 15 studies related to CIPN that focused on the aspects related to prevention, management/treatment/intervention and minimization of CIPN, described by the authors of the primary studies.

Results

From the collection of information using the above instrument, characteristics, analysis and integrative synthesis of the studies were conducted. Among the studies found, 14(93%) were retrieved in PubMed/MEDLINE database.

The characteristics of the included studies used in the integrative review are shown in Chart 1.

Of the 15 studies that comprised the final sample, 14 were performed by oncologists, and only one was developed by nurses. Publications occurred in several countries, five studies in Japan, four in the USA and six distributed in other countries.

As a result of the initial search, studies were found in the last two decades, however, after pre-selection, only 15 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the final sample; the publication period was from 2005 to 2014.

Of the 15 studies found, twelve - E2, E4, E5, E6, E7, E10, E11, E12, E13, E14 and E15 were performed in educational institutions and three - E1, E3 and E9 in teaching hospitals; E8 does not report the institution where the research was conducted. Below, Chart 2 shows information on study design, objectives and characteristics of the subjects of the studies included in this review:

Regarding the characteristics of the study participants, there was great variation in the number, from 35-300 individuals within groups of patients. These groups were composed of individuals of both sexes in 12 studies, two developed only with female participants related to ovarian and breast cancers and one study was conducted with only male participants. All studies included only participants over 18 years old. Among the included studies, researches used exploratory, randomized, comparative and cohort designs.

The objectives of the 15 studies were clearly stated by the authors and presented in Chart 2. In general, the studies sought to evaluate the outcomes of interventions, verified predictors of CIPN, as well as other factors related to the occurrence, incidence and impact on life of patients.

Table 1 shows the types of cancers in which participants received chemotherapy in the included studies:

Besides the type of cancer, chemotherapy regimens were identified, of which 11 studies included Paclitaxel as treatment regimen chemotherapy. This drug was used alone in E8 study, as Oxaliplatin, which was also used alone in E10, E11 and E12 studies. The studies E1, E3, E6, E9 and E14 used the combination of chemotherapy drugs Carboplatin and Paclitaxel, corresponding to the most frequently used scheme in five studies. The combination of Paclitaxel occurred with Oxaliplatin chemotherapy in E4 and E5 studies, and Paclitaxel + Oxaliplatin + Cisplatin only in E7. Cisplatin + Oxaliplatin in E13 study and finally Paclitaxel + Cisplatin were used in E2.

Considering the peculiarities of topics related to chemotherapy used in the studies, the topics that are highlighted due to similarity and/or proximity to other research are presented below:

Among the factors related to CIPN, the following were identified:

Discussion

Through the presented results, it is observed that CIPN is the focus of only a few studies, mainly developed by nurses. However, there was a frequent increase in researches when we consider the ones conducted in the last two years of this review. The integrative review is a valuable method mainly for nursing, because professionals do not usually have enough time to search the literature for all scientific knowledge on peripheral neuropathies, and even carry out a critical analysis of the results of published studies. Thus, it is important for health professionals to also dedicate time to literature review studies, allowing the disclosure of important primary research that can help optimize the work routine and improve the care provided to patients undergoing chemotherapy(²⁹29 Mendes KDS, Silveira RCCP, Galvão CM. Revisão integrativa: método de pesquisa para a incorporação de evidências na saúde e na enfermagem. Texto Contexto Enferm. 2008;17(4):758-64.).

The occurrence of CIPN is one of the major difficulties faced by patients undergoing chemotherapy with neurotoxic drugs. The high incidence of CIPN associated with the use of Paclitaxel, which remains long after the interruption of treatment, causes many patients to show losses in their daily activities, restricting their social relationships. Recurrence of CIPN and aggravation of symptoms, often a result in increased morbidity and thus a decrease in quality of life, hence the need to decrease therapeutic dose(³⁰30 Velasco R, Bruna J. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: an unresolved issue. Neurologia. 2010;25(2):116-31.).

Maintaining functional autonomy of elderly patients is essential, as well as the development of health promotion and prevention actions that will help to prevent the risk factors and the occurrence of complications of the treatment itself and it can hinder or even disable them to daily activities. Often, it is observed that older people are diagnosed with cancer late, making preventive interventions or minimization of the complications of the disease and the adverse effects of chemotherapy difficult(³¹31 Oliveira LPBA, Menezes RMP. Representações de fragilidade para idosos no contexto da Estratégia Saúde da Família.. Texto Contexto Enferm 2011;20(2):301-9.).

Regarding symptoms related to chemotherapy, we highlight six types: paresthesia and dysesthesia, numbness, weakness, tingling, loss of balance and pain. The most common neurotoxicity in patients treated with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel is distal sensory neuropathy, that is, a mixture of paresthesia and dysesthesia(⁷7 Martin LGR, Silva MDP. Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuroparhy: a literature review. Einstein. 2011;9(4 Pt 1):538-44.). These become more intense during the night, so disturbing the sleep of the patient, resulting in difficulties in carrying out daily activities and consequently impairing the quality of life of these people(²¹21 Shimozuma K, Ohashi Y, Takeuchi A, Aranishi T, Morita S, Kuroi K, et al. Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy and health-related quality of life in postoperative breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy: N-SAS BC 02, a randomized clinical trial.. Support Care Cancer 2012;20(12):3355-64.). Some studies have reported the numbness with different intensity patterns of neuropathic pain. Anyhow, pain sensations and numbness in the feet lead to changes in the types of footwear, removal of carpets at home, difficulties in running, cycling or standing for prolonged periods(³²32 Bakitas MA. Background noise: the experience of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.. Nurs Res 2007;56(5):323-31.). All these sensations, associated with changes in everyday life, also raise the chances of accidents within their own homes(⁵5 Bonassa EMA, Santana TR. Enfermagem em terapêutica oncológica. 3ª ed. Rio de Janeiro: Atheneu; 2005.).

The motor toxicity regarded as the most common is the weakness associated with distal motor neuropathy. In general, patients complain of a slight weakness in only one area of the body: the side of the body, limb or muscle, feeling unable to perform their daily activities. Consequently, began to consider that are becoming dependent on others(⁷7 Martin LGR, Silva MDP. Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuroparhy: a literature review. Einstein. 2011;9(4 Pt 1):538-44.). This new status could impact in deep emotional and social changes, leading the patient to retrospection.

Authors from E3 describe the effect of some chemotherapy as tingling, which is classified into 4 grades: the higher the tingling sensation, the higher the degree, so in the grade 4, patients report the sensation to be unbearable and therefore interfere with simple activities of everyday. In the study mentioned, an intervention to minimize, treat or prevent tingling was not proposed, since the objective was to evaluate the residual neuropathy in patients treated with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin.

The loss of balance is a severe impairment related to CIPN, which exposes patients to higher chances to fall with fracture possibilities. This restricts their mobility, since before the insecurity to walk and/or drive, the patient will be restricted to the home or limited to travel long distances, requiring the help of others (²⁰20 Tofthagen C, Overcash J, Kip K. Falls in persons with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.. Support Care Cancer 2012;20(3):583-9.).

Pain is a symptom constantly described and reported by cancer patients, and may be present in up to 90% of those in advanced stages of the disease. Since it is a subjective symptom, it is difficult to explain and delineate it, since it involves physical, emotional and psychosocial aspects of the patient. Pain brings clinical comorbidities, which hinder their approach and result in quality of life impairment(³³33 Pena R, Barbosa LA, Ishikawa NM. Estimulação elétri ca transcutânea do nervo (TENS) na dor oncológica: revi são da literatura. Rev Bras Cancerol.2008;54(2):193-9.).

Among the chemotherapeutic addressed in the included studies, all showed significant occurrence of peripheral neuropathy after administration for a certain period. Virtually all patients using Oxaliplatin showed some degree of peripheral neurological dysfunction, showing the occurrence of chronic neuropathy in 29% -70% of patients(²⁴24 Kono T, Hata T, Morita S, Munemoto Y, Matsui T, Kojima H, et al. Goshajinkigan oxaliplatin neurotoxicity evaluation (GONE): a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, doubleblind, placebocontrolled trial of goshajinkigan to prevent oxaliplatininduced neuropathy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2013;72(6):1283-90.), what draws attention due to significant interference in everyday life, including social, economic and political aspects that will be affected by this, the need for future studies exploring the topic.

The occurrence of peripheral neurotoxicity up to six months after the use of Paclitaxel was 62% in E3 study; symptoms related to antineoplastic agent are: tingling, numbness and pain in the hands and feet, difficulty walking, among others. There was a higher incidence of pain and numbness in accordance with the studies in patients who received Paclitaxel/Carboplatin, and it occurred to the extent that the number of cycles increased(⁵5 Bonassa EMA, Santana TR. Enfermagem em terapêutica oncológica. 3ª ed. Rio de Janeiro: Atheneu; 2005.). Thus, it is necessary special attention by the whole team treating the patient, seeking proper adjustment of dosages, strategies for prevention and reduction of symptoms.

The cumulative dose was well demonstrated in E1, E3, E8 and E10 studies, which demonstrated the severity of the peripheral neuropathies after cumulative doses of drugs. Late toxicity struck from 15% to 20% of patients and was related to cumulative dose, usually more severe and leading to discontinuation of treatment(²²22 Kawakami K, Tunoda T, Takiguchi T, Shibata K, Ohtani T, Kizu J, et al. Factors exacerbating peripheral neuropathy induced by paclitaxel plus carboplatin in non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Res. 2012;20(4):179-85.).

Depending on the number of cycles, the patient's tolerance and severity of the symptoms presented was indicated by dose reduction in 25% to 50% or sometimes interruption of risk of progression of cancer(²⁴24 Kono T, Hata T, Morita S, Munemoto Y, Matsui T, Kojima H, et al. Goshajinkigan oxaliplatin neurotoxicity evaluation (GONE): a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, doubleblind, placebocontrolled trial of goshajinkigan to prevent oxaliplatininduced neuropathy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2013;72(6):1283-90.). This finding highlights the need for preventive measures or, early identification of the symptoms of CIPN, given its repercussions.

Some patients are afraid to tell what they really feel or believe that these symptoms are inherent to the effects of anticancer drugs. The relief of adverse events is intended to minimize the occurrence, and not adversely affect the results of treatment, improving the quality and extending the life of these patients.

Given this reality, the oncologist nurse needs to be aware of the emergence of cancer treatment complications, developing actions that are effective, motivating the patient to adherence and interventions that can contribute to achieving good results. Assess the patient at each cycle of treatment, inform symptoms resulting from CIPN, recognize the symptoms and identify actions for early treatment will result in the reduction of losses in the activities of daily living(³⁴34 Wickham R. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a review and implications for oncology nursing practice. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2007;11(3):361-76.) and will improve the general living conditions.

The field of study, interventions and research is increasingly vast, however, we observed in the literature few studies that described the strategies used for prevention, reduction or treatment/management of peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy. We identified only two studies with positive results that affect the patient's response to treatment. The need for innovations in research that benefit to obtain more reliable data can collaborate with the best quality of life of cancer patients(⁷7 Martin LGR, Silva MDP. Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuroparhy: a literature review. Einstein. 2011;9(4 Pt 1):538-44.). Thus, there is the importance of studies focusing on interventions to minimize the occurrence and symptoms of CIPN, during and after chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Among the included studies for the integrative review, only eight addressed an intervention to minimize and/or prevent CIPN. However, six did not produce positive results, only two studies showed positive interventions and contributed to a small but significant improvement in CIPN in patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Importantly, interventions with positive results encourage other researchers on new quests, or even, in the improvement of those interventions that are still incipient. Although this study has sought evidences for improving the quality of care, we emphasize the scarcity of evidence in the literature on interventions focusing on prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients.

We consider essential the development of new researches that aim to develop strategies for prevention, reduction of occurrences and treatment of CIPN. It is hoped that future researches can fill these gaps identifying complications, contributing significantly to improving care of cancer patients.

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