Key result
Overweight patients with ovarian cancer receiving chemotherapy had significantly higher Total Neuropathy Scores (p=0.019) and earlier symptom onset (p<0.05) compared to normal-weight patients.
Why the study?
Prior studies exploring the link between obesity and CIPN mostly relied on subjective grading systems rather than objective tools like the Total Neuropathy Score.
Is higher BMI associated with increased severity and earlier onset of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with ovarian cancer?
Observational (n=42)
No
Is higher BMI associated with increased severity and earlier onset of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with ovarian cancer?
p-value: p=0.019
Higher BMI is associated with more severe and earlier onset of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in ovarian cancer patients treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin.
Overweight was associated with more severe CIPN by TNS; leaves open whether weight loss mitigates risk in ovarian cancer.
Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, which is more common in patients with ovarian cancer who are receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin treatment. Although prior studies have explored the association between obesity and CIPN, most relied on subjective grading systems. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between being overweight and CIPN using the Total Neuropathy Score (TNS), a more objective and comprehensive assessment tool. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between being overweight and the onset and severity of CIPN in a cohort of South Korean patients with ovarian cancer who were treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively at a single tertiary hospital in South Korea from March 2013 to February 2022. Included in this study were forty-two individuals who were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer and who had developed neuropathic symptoms following chemotherapy. Patient characteristics, laboratory findings, and disease-specific TNS were analyzed. Results: Overweight patients showed significantly more severe CIPN, with higher Total Neuropathy Scores (TNS; p = 0.019) and earlier symptom onset (p < 0.05) compared to normal-weight patients. Causal mediation analysis also revealed a significant direct effect of BMI on TNS (p = 0.006). However, no significant correlation was found between BMI and TNS using Kendall’s rank correlation, and other neuropathic symptoms or laboratory parameters did not show statistically significant group differences. Conclusions: The study suggests that overweight may be associated with the severity and onset of CIPN in patients with ovarian cancer who are receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy. While the results are preliminary, they underscore the importance of addressing this modifiable risk factor in clinical care. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to inform future therapeutic strategies.
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Park et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Ovarian cancer with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (n=42). Overweight (Higher BMI) vs. Normal-weight patients was evaluated on Total Neuropathy Score (TNS) (p=0.019). Overweight patients with ovarian cancer receiving chemotherapy had significantly higher Total Neuropathy Scores (p=0.019) and earlier symptom onset (p<0.05) compared to normal-weight patients.
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