OBJECTIVES: Use of chemotherapeutic drugs is commonly associated with considerable complications; one major neurological complication is peripheral neuropathy. This study aims to assess the incidence rate and severity of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) based on the drug class.

METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in medical oncology wards of tertiary care hospital, Bengaluru. Subjects who had known histological malignancies and who underwent 3^rd cycle of chemotherapy were recruited in the study. A validated screening tool (eviQ scale) was administered to assess the incidence and severity of symptoms which were then graded based on CTCAE v.4.3.

RESULTS: Seven chemotherapeutic drug classes were assessed, and a total of 101 subjects were recruited into the study. 44 subjects received platinum compounds, 46 received plant alkaloids and 27, 24, 23, 18, 13 received antimetabolites, antibiotics, alkylating agents, immunosuppressants and miscellaneous drug classes respectively. Incidence rate of peripheral neuropathy was determined, among which miscellaneous agents like zolandric acid, bortezomib, leuprolide (IR=61.5%; n=8), plant alkaloids (IR=56.52%; n=26) and platinum compounds (IR=52.27%; n=23) were associated with higher rates followed by immunosuppressants (IR=38.8%; n=7), anti-metabolites (IR= 37.03%; n=10), antibiotics (IR=33.33%; n=8) and alkylating agents (IR=30.43; n=7) respectively. Correspondingly severity with these chemotherapeutic agents was determined as grade-3 or grade-2 with platinum compounds, plant alkaloids, miscellaneous agents and grade-2 or grade-1 with aforementioned classes of chemotherapeutic agents.

CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence rate and severity of CIPN was more with plant alkaloids and platinum compounds and miscellaneous agents when compared with other classes of chemotherapeutic agents. Further intensive studies are necessary to determine causal relationship of these chemotherapeutic agents.

KEYWORDS: Peripheral Neuropathy, Chemotherapy.