• Andreas Binder, Maike Stengel, Rainer Maag, Gunnar Wasner, Robert Schoch, Frank Moosig, Bernhard Schommer, and Ralf Baron.
• Division of Neurological Pain Research and Therapy, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Schittenhelmstrasse 10, 24105 Kiel, Germany. a.binder@neurologie.uni-kiel.de
• Eur. J. Cancer. 2007 Dec 1; 43 (18): 2658-63.

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the somatosensory characteristics and pain types in patients with acute oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy and to relate this profile to the hereby detected underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.Patients And MethodsSixteen patients treated with oxaliplatin for cancer were characterised with neurological assessment and a standardised and validated set for quantitative sensory testing (QST). Patients were allocated to two groups depending on the presence or absence of pain symptoms of acute neuropathy.ResultsComparison with normative data revealed in patients with pain symptoms a characteristic somatosensory profile of cold and mechanical hyperalgesia. Group-to-group analysis revealed additional heat hyperalgesia and warm hypoesthesia.ConclusionPain symptoms of acute oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy are related to signs of sensitisation within the peripheral (cold and heat hyperalgesia) and central nervous nociceptive system (mechanical hyperalgesia). This strengthens the rationale for treatment with anticonvulsants and antidepressants and fosters research on ion channel and receptor related mechanisms.

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