Incidence and influencing factors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical observational studies
PubMed 41815730 · doi:10.3389/fneur.2026.1672180
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to June 10, 2025. The authors evaluated the incidence and influencing risk factors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in cancer patients, analyzing pooled estimates using Stata 17.0.
What was found
Across 23 included studies involving 15,090 patients, the pooled incidence of CIPN was 56% (95% CI: 46% to 66%, p < 0.01). Significant influencing factors included: - Vitamin D deficiency (OR = 5.63, 95% CI: 2.64–11.99) - Combination with taxane chemotherapy (per 10 mg/m²) (OR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.81–5.44) - Cumulative dose of chemotherapy drugs (OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.20–5.32) - Anxiety or depression (OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.20–5.20) - Transaminase elevation (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.55–2.84) - Hypertension (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.07–3.69) - BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.43–1.95) - Diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.29–2.13) - High cholesterol (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14–1.58) - Chemotherapy ≥ 4 cycles (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.08–1.35) - BMI ≥ 24 kg/m² (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06–1.24) - Age ≥ 50 years (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.10)
Why it matters
This review demonstrates that over half of cancer patients experience CIPN and highlights key modifiable metabolic, nutritional, and treatment-related risk factors for clinical screening.
Limits
The abstract does not report specific cancer types, diagnostic definitions of CIPN, between-study heterogeneity measures, or whether reported odds ratios reflect adjusted multivariable models.
Cited by
- supports Up to one-third of chemotherapy patients develop damage to their peripheral nerves.