Anticancer therapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in solid tumors: diagnosis, mechanisms, and treatment strategies

Abstract

Anticancer therapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common adverse event during the diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors. The drug class, cumulative dose, and individual susceptibility affect the incidence and severity of PN. Owing to the lack of specific biomarkers and imaging tests, the diagnostic criteria for PN remain unclear. Moreover, the available and effective clinical treatment strategies are very limited, and most of the current drugs focus on symptom management rather than fundamental reversal of the disease course. The morbidity mechanisms of PN are diverse, including direct neurotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruption of axonal transport. Here, we summarize the diagnosis, mechanisms, and neuroprotective strategies of PN and discuss potential intervention treatments.