Efficacy of compression therapy for prevention of peripheral neuropathy caused by taxane-based chemotherapy: a single-center retrospective observational study.

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant complication of taxane-based chemotherapies that limits their clinical utility. This study evaluated the effectiveness of compression therapy using surgical gloves in preventing CIPN in various cancer types, including, but not limited to, breast cancer.

Patients and methods: Data from 603 patients who underwent taxane-based chemotherapy at a single institution between April 2018 and January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Variables associated with CIPN development were extracted and analyzed using uni- and multivariate ordered logistic regression models.

Result: Compression therapy was significantly associated with a reduced incidence of CIPN. Significant predictors of CIPN included lung cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 0.342, P = 0.003), number of chemotherapy cycles (OR = 1.015, P = 0.033), and use of surgical gloves (OR = 0.559, P = 0.003).

Conclusion: Compression therapy using simple, cost-effective surgical gloves appeared effective for preventing CIPN in a diverse cancer population undergoing taxane-based chemotherapy. The risk of CIPN increases with the number of chemotherapy cycles, and a lower incidence was observed among patients with lung cancer. These findings provide a foundation for future research aimed at improving patient quality of life during taxane-based chemotherapy.