• Wen-Yee Chay, Sze-Huey Tan, Yew-Long Lo, Simon Yew-Kwang Ong, Hui-Cheng Ng, Fei Gao, Wen-Hsin Koo, and Su-Pin Choo.
• Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore. chay.w.y@nccs.com.sg
• Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2010 Dec 1; 6 (4): 270-7.

AimOxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity is frequently dose-limiting. Following retrospective studies suggesting neuroprotective effects of calcium and magnesium (Ca and Mg), we conducted a prospective study using nerve conduction studies (NCS) to evaluate the effectiveness of such infusions in oxaliplatin-related neuropathy.MethodsColorectal cancer patients receiving FOLFOX-4 or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin were randomized to (Arm A) calcium gluconate 1g +15% magnesium sulphate 1g diluted in 100 mL of dextrose 5% or (Arm B) placebo. Neuropathy was assessed using the National Cancer Center common toxicity criteria, oxaliplatin-specific scale and NCS.Results  This study was terminated prematurely based on the initial negative results of the CONcePT trial. Median follow up was 8.7 months. Overall 22 out of 27 patients experienced neuropathy. The subjective neuropathy rate was 77% in Arm A and 86% in Arm B, (P = 0.6). At the end of treatment, three patients in Arm A and 0 in Arm B had grade 3 numbness (P = 0.09). There was no significant difference in neuropathy between arms, whether during or at the end of treatment. Median objective neuropathy score was 6 in Arm A and 0 in Arm B, (P = 0.02).ConclusionPremature closure of this study limits the interpretation of results. While there was a trend towards reduced subjective acute sensory neuropathy with Ca and Mg, this was not significant. Ca and Mg failed to reduce the rate of cumulative sensory neuropathy and instead increased the rate of abnormal NCS, suggesting a significant difference in perceived sensory and objective neuropathy.© 2010 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

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