[The efficacy of Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to for peripheral nerve dysfunction in paclitaxel combination chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2004 Oct;31(10):1537-40.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to was first medicated for muscular pain which was called Komuragaeri, and it has been reported that it is effective for peripheral nerve dysfunction such as arthralgia and numbness. Recently, Paclitaxel (T) and Carboplatin (J) combination chemotherapy (TJ chemotherapy) has been a standard first-line chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma. For the arthralgia and muscular pain occurring in TJ chemotherapy, non-steroid-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Vitamin B12 (VB12) and Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to are the major medications. In this study, we examined twenty-one cases in which arthralgia and muscular pain occurred in TJ chemotherapy (including 16 cases as first-line chemotherapy). In all cases, patients took 7.5 g of Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to orally per day for eight days. We investigated the efficacy of Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to retrospectively with the following results. In nine cases (43%), Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to was effective in reducing pain. Especially in TJ chemotherapy as first-line chemotherapy, Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to was even more effective in reducing pain. We suggested that Paclitaxel combination chemotherapy with Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to taken orally is a more safe and tolerable way to reduce pain in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Arthralgia / drug therapy
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Glycyrrhiza
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / complications
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Paeonia
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / etiology

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • shakuyaku-kanzoh-toh
  • Carboplatin
  • Paclitaxel