Effect of cryotherapy on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer treated with taxanes: a systematic review using the GRADE system.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
- 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Randers Regional Hospital, Randers, Denmark.
- 3Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordsjaellands Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark.
- 4Department of Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
- 5Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Abstract
Background
The aim of this systematic review is to assess the evidence of the effect of cryotherapy on the development of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients with breast cancer in neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy.Method
Studies investigating the effect of cryotherapy as a preventive intervention for CIPN in patients with breast cancer treated with taxanes were eligible for inclusion. Non-English and non-German publications and studies inaccessible due to paywall restrictions were excluded. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase on 29 May 2026. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE method.Results
Twenty-two studies involving 3369 participants were included.The included evidence suggests that cryotherapy may reduce the incidence and severity of CIPN in patients with breast cancer receiving taxanes. However, the certainty of the evidence was low overall because of study limitations such as small sample sizes, non-randomised study designs and heterogeneity.Conclusion
The preventive effect of cryotherapy on the development of CIPN in patients with breast cancer receiving taxanes cannot be ruled out. The overall quality of evidence in the included studies is low. Therefore, it is not possible to conclude with certainty if cryotherapy can prevent the development of CIPN. Larger randomised controlled trials using objective measures such as nerve conduction studies are needed.
Related
- Narrative review of non-pharmacological interventions for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: exercise, physical therapy, cryotherapy and acupuncture
- Topical herbal medicine as treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
- Experimental evidence for electroacupuncture in managing pain from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Effects of sensorimotor training on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy-related outcomes in adults with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Quality-of-Life Changes Following Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy in Patients with Lung Cancer and Cisplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Sex-Stratified Analysis
BibTeX
@article{gravesen2026effect,
title = {{Effect of cryotherapy on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer treated with taxanes: a systematic review using the GRADE system.}},
author = {Rikke Elgaard Gravesen and Maria Elisabeth Lendorf and Hatice Tankisi and Anders Bonde Jensen},
journal = {BMJ neurology open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjno-2026-001602},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921167},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effect of cryotherapy on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer treated with taxanes: a systematic review using the GRADE system.
AU - Rikke Elgaard Gravesen
AU - Maria Elisabeth Lendorf
AU - Hatice Tankisi
AU - Anders Bonde Jensen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - BMJ neurology open
DO - 10.1136/bmjno-2026-001602
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921167
AB - Background The aim of this systematic review is to assess the evidence of the effect of cryotherapy on the development of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients with breast cancer in neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy.Method Studies investigating the effect of cryotherapy as a preventive intervention for CIPN in patients with breast cancer treated with taxanes were eligible for inclusion. Non-English and non-German publications and studies inaccessible due to paywall restrictions were excluded. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase on 29 May 2026. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE method.Results Twenty-two studies involving 3369 participants were included.The included evidence suggests that cryotherapy may reduce the incidence and severity of CIPN in patients with breast cancer receiving taxanes. However, the certainty of the evidence was low overall because of study limitations such as small sample sizes, non-randomised study designs and heterogeneity.Conclusion The preventive effect of cryotherapy on the development of CIPN in patients with breast cancer receiving taxanes cannot be ruled out. The overall quality of evidence in the included studies is low. Therefore, it is not possible to conclude with certainty if cryotherapy can prevent the development of CIPN. Larger randomised controlled trials using objective measures such as nerve conduction studies are needed.
SN - 2632-6140
ER -