Clinical study of Jiawei Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction in preventing and treating peripheral neuro-sensory toxicity caused by oxaliplatin.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Jiawei Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (JHGWD) in treating neuro-sensory toxicity induced by oxaliplatin.
Methods: A randomized controlled self-crossover trial was performed. Thirty-one patients were randomly divided into AB and BA groups. Patients in A cycle belonged to the treated group, who were treated with chemotherapy combined with oxaliplatin plus JHGWD. Patients in B cycle belonged to the control group and were treated with chemotherapy alone. The peripheral neuro-sensory toxicity was observed and analyzed.
Results: The main neurotoxicity was cold-induced paresthesia after the use of oxaliplatin, which included hyperaesthesia, chill, anaesthesia in the extremities, electrified sensation, formication, foreign body sensation and pain that might be exacerbated by exposure to cold. Twenty patients (64.5%) suffered from neuro-sensory toxicity in the treated group and 27 cases (87.1%) in the control group. Symptoms were more serious and lasted longer in the control group than those in the treated group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: JHGWD could prevent and reduce the occurrence and intensity of acute peripheral neuro-sensory toxicity caused by oxaliplatin.