Taxonomy.

Virtually all chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer include a taxane, meaning many women end up with some degree of neuropathy. In fact, with women living longer than ever post-diagnosis, neuropathy could prove to be the most common long term toxicity across all breast cancer treatments. This novel Chinese prospective study queried 1234 women receiving taxanes for breast cancer with detailed validated questionnaires capturing patient-reported toxicity. There was a fairly even split across taxanes received: 24% nab-paclitaxel (aka Abraxane), 42% paclitaxel, and 34% docetaxel. While a majority receiving Abraxane experienced what we all think of—peripheral neuropathy (81%)—pacletaxel and docetaxel interestingly resulted in a propensity for motor weakness (44-47%, e.g. weakness in legs) and autonomic symptoms (44-46%, e.g. blurred vision) occuring at a similar rate to Abraxane and at an earlier time point than peripheral neuropathy. | Mo, JAMA Netw Open 2022