Data from: Neuropathy with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Objective: To explore the association of peripheral neuropathy with
vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors
(VEGFR-TKIs) use in cancer patients. Methods: Published data search up to
November 2018 reporting peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients treated
with VEGFR-TKIs was performed. The primary outcome was presence of
peripheral neuropathy at the end of the trial. Random-effects
meta-analysis was performed to estimate Relative Risk (RR) of individual
treatment. Results: Thirty Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) including
12,490 cancer patients were included in this analysis. Eight studies
compared VEGFR-TKIs with placebo and the remaining studies compared
VEGFR-TKIs with the standard chemotherapeutic regimen. When compared
against placebo VEGFR-TKIs were associated with a higher risk of
peripheral neuropathy (RR=1.76, 95% CI 1.13-2.75, p-value 0.01).
Similarly, a stronger association was noted for sensory neuropathy with
VEGFR-TKIs monotherapy (RR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.09-2.37, p = 0.02). Risk of
peripheral neuropathy with VEGFR-TKIs was higher even when they were
compared against control (either placebo or standard chemotherapeutic
agents); RR=1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.15, p-value 0.03. High-grade neuropathy
(RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.06-1.54, p-value <0.01) and high-grade sensory
neuropathy (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.09-1.74, p-value <0.01) were noted
more frequently with VEGFR-TKIs treatment compared against control.
Conclusions: VEGFR-TKIs therapy appeared to be associated with an
increased risk of neuropathy.