SenseCheQ-CIPN version 1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  SenseCheQ-CIPN: Strategies to optimise the early detection of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

• IRAS ID

  327541

• Contact name

  Tony Pickering

• Contact email

  tony.pickering@bristol.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Bristol

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  One third of cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy experience chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Symptoms include pain and numbness, and are generally first noticed in the lower limbs, before spreading to the upper limbs. This impaired nerve function is long-term and is a major issue of survivorship.
  Patients may not always report early signs of neuropathy as symptoms are vague and subjective. Furthermore, our Patient and Participant Involvement (PPI) group expressed fears that disclosure of symptoms may trigger chemotherapy dose reductions, which they worry could be less effective at treating their cancer.

  Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be used to assess nerve health and potentially detect early signs of CIPN, such as a reduced cold or vibration detection thresholds (Reimer et al. 2020). However, although symptoms often first manifest in the lower limbs, it is currently unknown whether this is where changes in nerve function can first be detected using QST methods. This is important as there is less variability in sensory test results in the upper limb and so any changes caused by chemotherapy may be easier to detect in the hand compared to the foot. We aim to test this by comparing cancer patients that are undergoing chemotherapy and have a diagnosis of CIP with a group of patients that have not yet started chemotherapy. We will aim to test at several sites on both the upper and lower limb. These tests will follow a standard QST test protocol developed by the German Network for Neuropathic Pain (DFNS) (Rolke et al. 2006).

  In the longer-term, we aim to use these results to help inform the development of a convenient, reliable, and objective method for chemotherapy patients to test their own nerve function, by providing information on whether the upper or lower limbs are more suited to testing.

• REC name

  South East Scotland REC 02

• REC reference

  23/SS/0084

• Date of REC Opinion

  9 Aug 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion