The association between vincristine‐induced peripheral neuropathy and health‐related quality of life in children with cancer

PURPOSE: Vincristine (VCR) is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of pediatric oncology patients, but its main toxicity is VCR‐induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN). However, whether VIPN has an effect on health‐related quality of life (HR‐QoL) in children during treatment is unknown. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the association between VIPN and HR‐QoL in children starting treatment for cancer. METHODS: Measurements of VIPN were performed using two tools: Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and pediatric‐modified Total Neuropathy Score (ped‐mTNS). Assessment of HR‐QoL was done with self‐ and proxy assessment of the Cancer and Generic module of the Pediatric Cancer Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL). RESULTS: In total, N = 86 children were included. HR‐QoL of children with VIPN (n = 67%, 76%) was significantly lower in comparison with children without VIPN: estimated Total score of PedsQL Generic (proxy) 84.57; β = −8.96 and 95% confidence interval (CI) −14.48 to −3.43; p = 0.002, estimated PedsQL Generic Total score (self‐reported): 85.16, β = −8.38 (95% CI: −13.76 to −3.00); p = 0.003. Similar results were found in the Pain and Hurt domain of the PedsQL Cancer (pain: estimated score [proxy]: 85.28, β = −9.94 [95%CI: −16.44 to −3.45], p = 0.003; hurt: estimated score [self‐report] 97.57, β = −19.15 [95%CI: −26.82 to −11.48], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: VIPN results in a significant reduction of HR‐QoL in children under treatment for a malignancy, which means that VIPN is important for the well‐being of pediatric oncology patients. Therefore, this study underlines the importance of optimizing treatment with VCR, thereby aiming to reduce VIPN while maintaining efficacy.