Liu, M.Y., & Huang, X.E. (2015). Effects of analgecine on oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 16, 4465–4468. 

To assess the safety and effectiveness of analgecine for the control of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity

Patients scheduled to receive oxaliplatin as adjuvant or palliative therapy were divided into experimental and control groups. Neurotoxicity was measured at four and eight weeks/cycles. Timing and dosage of the experimental agent were not described.

• N = 82   
• AGE = 72% were older than 50 years
• MALES: 32.9%, FEMALES: 67.1%
• CURRENT TREATMENT: Chemotherapy
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: All had either gastric or colorectal cancer. The majority had metastatic disease.

• SITE: Single site   
• SETTING TYPE: Not specified    
• LOCATION: China

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Parallel group trial

Common Criteria Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 3.0

The occurrence rate of toxicity was lower in the experimental group at four (p = 0.043) and eight (p = 0.05) weeks, and those in the experimental group generally had lower grades of toxicity.

Analgecine may have some role as a neuroprotective agent for patients receiving oxaliplatin; however, well designed research is needed to explore this.

• Small sample (< 100)
• Risk of bias (no blinding)
• Risk of bias (no random assignment)
• Measurement/methods not well described
• It is unclear how individuals were assigned to study groups.
• The intervention was not described.

There is very limited evidence for interventions that can prevent or reduce neurotoxic side effects of chemotherapy. Additional research for analgecine is needed to determine if it has any role in this area.