Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Oct 6;58(10):1405.
doi: 10.3390/medicina58101405.

TENS Improves Cisplatin-Induced Neuropathy in Lung Cancer Patients

Sanja Tomanovic Vujadinovic  1   2 , Nela Ilic  1   2 , Ivan Selakovic  1   2 , Una Nedeljkovic  1   2 , Nevena Krstic  1   2 , Natasa Mujovic  1   2 , Emilija Dubljanin Raspopovic  1   2 , Dragana Jovanovic  1   3
Affiliations

TENS Improves Cisplatin-Induced Neuropathy in Lung Cancer Patients

Sanja Tomanovic Vujadinovic et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Background: Cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of cisplatin therapy, which develops in most patients with lung cancer. There are no effective preventive measures and once it occurs there is no effective therapy, except symptomatic. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy on the pain intensity and the quality of life of patients with cisplatin-induced neuropathy. Material and Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed from 2013 to 2018, at the Clinical Center of Serbia. After the initial evaluation of 106 newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer, 68 patients did not have peripheral neuropathy. These 68 patients continued in the study and started the cisplatin chemotherapy. Forty of these patients developed cisplatin-induced neuropathy, which was manifested by neuropathic symptoms and proven by ENG examination. All patients with cisplatin-induced neuropathy were treated with TENS therapy. Their neuropathic pain and quality of life were evaluated using the following questionnaires at diagnosis, after cisplatin therapy and after four weeks of TENS use: DN4, VAS scale, EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-L. Results: Two thirds (68%) of the patients with cisplatin-induced neuropathy were male and the majority were smokers (70%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common (38%), followed by squamous (33%) and small-cell carcinoma (28%). The application of TENS therapy had a positive effect on reducing the neuropathic pain and increasing the quality of life for patients with painful cisplatin-induced neuropathy. The VAS and DN4 scores significantly decreased after TENS therapy, in comparison to its values after cisplatin therapy (p < 0.001). After TENS therapy, patients had significantly higher values in most of the domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT- L, in comparison with the values after cisplatin therapy (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The application of TENS therapy has a positive effect on reducing neuropathic pain and increasing the quality of life for patients with lung cancer and cisplatin-induced neuropathy.

Keywords: TENS; cisplatin; cisplatin-induced neuropathy; lung cancer; neuropathic pain; neuropathy; quality of life.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
FACT L—functional assessment of cancer therapy–lung; PWB—physical wellbeing; FWB—functional wellbeing; FACT L TOI-FACT-L trial outcome index (TOI); FACTG total score–PWB + SWB + EWB + FWB; and FACT L TOTAL score–PWB + SWB + EWB + FWB + LCS.
Figure 3
Figure 3
EORTC QLQ–C30—European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer–Quality of life questionnaire C30; PF—physical functioning; PA—pain; QLQ Total—QLQ total score.
Figure 4
Figure 4
VAS and DN4. VAS—Visual Analogue Scale; DN4—Douler Neuropathique in 4 questions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Sung H., Ferlay J., Siegel R.L., Laversanne M., Soerjomataram I., Jemal A., Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J. Clin. 2021;71:209–249. doi: 10.3322/caac.21660. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Stefens-Stawna P., Piorunek T., Gabryel-Batura H., Kozubski W., Michalak S. Neurological Paraneoplastic Syndromes in Lung Cancer Patients. Vol. 756. Springer; Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: 2012. pp. 333–339. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hausheer F.H., Schilsky R.L., Bain S., Berghorn E.J., Lieberman F. Diagnosis, Management, and Evaluation of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. Semin. Oncol. 2006;33:15–49. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2005.12.010. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Park S.B., Goldstein D., Krishnan A.V., Lin C.S.-Y., Friedlander M.L., Cassidy J., Koltzenburg M., Kiernan M.C. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: A critical analysis. CA Cancer J. Clin. 2013;63:419–437. doi: 10.3322/caac.21204. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Jain K.K. Drug-Induced Neurological Disorders. Springer; Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: 2021. - DOI

Supplementary concepts