The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy on hand function, grip strength, and quality of life in colorectal cancer patients. Assessing the motor symptoms of CIPN and sharing the results in clinical settings will help guide evidence-based practices and interventions.
Oxaliplatin is a chemotherapy drug frequently used in the treatment of colorectal cancers, the third most common type of cancer. However, oxaliplatin is associated with long-term neurotoxicity, the most common dose-limiting side effect. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse effect of platinum-based chemotherapy agents, such as oxaliplatin. CIPN limits patients' ability to tolerate treatment and adversely affects long-term quality of life and physical functionality. In individuals undergoing colorectal cancer treatment, the prevalence of CIPN has been reported as 58% at 6 months, 45% at 12 months, 32% at 24 months, and 24% at 36 months post-treatment. Additionally, oxaliplatin exhibits a "coasting phenomenon," in which CIPN symptoms continue to worsen for approximately 3 months after treatment. Although the incidence and sensory symptoms of oxaliplatin-induced CIPN during chemotherapy have been well documented, the chronic-phase motor symptom burden of oxaliplatin-induced CIPN has not been reported. Studies investigating the motor aspects of CIPN are insufficient, and further research is needed to determine its prevalence, progression, and impact on functional outcomes.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
84
observational only
Hand Grip Strength Assessment
Participants' hand grip strength will be evaluated using the Saehan Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer (SAEHAN Corporation, Yangdeok-Dong, Masan, South Korea) to assess the functional status of the upper extremity and clinical outcomes.
Time frame: baseline only
Finger Grip Strengths (Tip, Key, and Palmar Grip)
A hydraulic pinch gauge will be used to measure finger grip strengths.
Time frame: baseline only
Hand Function Assessment (Duruöz Hand Index)
Hand function related to daily activities will be assessed using the Duruöz Hand Index questionnaire. This questionnaire consists of 18 items covering five domains: kitchen tasks, dressing, personal hygiene, work activities, and other activities. Each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 5.
Time frame: baseline
Hand Function Assessment (Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire)
Overall hand function, including parameters such as pain, aesthetic perception, and patient satisfaction, will be assessed using the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ). The MHQ was developed in 1998 by hand surgeon Chung and colleagues Pillsbury, Walters, Hayward, and Arbor. The questionnaire consists of six domains: overall hand function, activities of daily living, work performance, pain, aesthetics, and patient-reported hand function. Scores range from 0 to 100. Responses are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 and then normalized to obtain scores for each subdomain.
Time frame: baseline
Fine Motor Skill Assessment (Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test)
Fine motor skills will be assessed using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), which evaluates unilateral and bilateral manual performance of the upper extremities through placement and turning tasks. In the placement test, participants are required to place 60 cylinders one by one into holes on a board as quickly as possible using one hand. The dominant and non-dominant hands are evaluated separately. In the turning test, at the start of the test, all 60 cylinders are placed in the holes. Participants are asked to pick up each cylinder with one hand, rotate it, and return it to the hole using the other hand, repeating this process for all 60 cylinders individually.
Time frame: baseline
Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT)
The Nine-Hole Peg Test is a standardized, well-established, and reliable tool for assessing hand function.
Time frame: Baseline
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)
Developed in 1987, the EORTC QLQ-C30 is the most widely used quality of life questionnaire in cancer research and clinical practice. It consists of three subdimensions: overall well-being, functional performance, and symptoms. The questionnaire includes five functional scales (physical, social, role, emotional, and cognitive functioning), nine symptom scales (fatigue, pain, nausea/vomiting, dyspnea, sleep disturbances, appetite loss, diarrhea, constipation, and financial difficulties), and a global health status scale, totaling 30 items.
Time frame: baseline
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Module (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20)
The EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 is a 20-item quality of life questionnaire designed to assess symptoms and impairments related to sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathy. It has been widely used in oncology studies. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale, and the questionnaire has been validated for clinical and research use.
Time frame: baseline
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