The vitamin E preventive effect on Taxol-induced neuropathy among patients with breast cancer: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is one of the most severe complications of cancer drug therapies causing a number of problems for patients and making treatment limitation decisions problematic. One of the most important drugs used in breast cancer chemotherapy regimens, Taxol is considered as the most common cause of neuropathy in such cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin E on reducing the Taxol-induced neuropathy development among patients with breast cancer. Methods: The randomized clinical trial (RCT) included 70 patients with breast cancer who received Taxol chemotherapy regimens. They were assigned to one of the two groups: a group without vitamin E feeding (Group I) and a group with vitamin E treatment at a daily dose of 400 IU bid (Group II). Electrophysiological testing of all patients was performed before starting medications and again 3 months post-treatment. The data were compared between the groups. Results: Vitamin E feeding had no significant effect on amplitude, latency, and CV of tibial and peroneal nerves (P > 0.05), while the delta amplitude of sural nerve was significantly lower among patients taking vitamin E supplements (P = 0.007). Conclusion: We suggest the inhibitory effect of vitamin E on the progression of Taxol-induced neuropathy, by slowing the speed of progression, among breast cancer patients by improving the function of the nervous system.