OBJECTIVE: The study investigates cryotherapy\'s efficacy in mitigating Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), an adverse effect of chemotherapy that often leads to dosage reduction or treatment discontinuation.
METHODS: The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023428936). A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of cryotherapy on CIPN were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. The primary outcome for prevention was the incidence of CIPN.
RESULTS: We identified 17 trials involving 2,851 patients. In total, 11 trials compared the incidence of CIPN between cryotherapy and control groups. Significant differences in the incidence of CIPN at the midpoint and end of chemotherapy were observed, with risk ratios (RRs) of 0.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13 to 0.43) and 0.54 (95% CI = 0.33 to 0.88), respectively. Cryotherapy also significantly reduced the incidence of sensory CIPN, with an RR of 0.67 (95% CI = 0.49 to 0.92). Additionally, cryotherapy demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of CIPN in patients with gynecological cancers (RR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.41). Significantly favorable global quality of life scores following chemotherapy (standardized mean difference = 1.43; 95% CI = 0.50 to 2.36) and relieved neuropathic symptoms were found with cryotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Cryotherapy demonstrates a pronounced preventive effect against the development of CIPN, providing substantial symptomatic relief and quality of life improvements for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The administration of cryotherapy through the use of frozen gloves and socks, or continuous-flow cooling systems, optimally initiated 15 min prior to and concluded 15 min following chemotherapy, is recommended for achieving maximum therapeutic efficacy.

Taxanes, such as paclitaxel and docetaxel, have transformed the landscape of breast cancer treatment, playing pivotal roles in chemotherapy protocols for both early-stage and advanced/metastatic diseases. While these agents have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in enhancing patient outcomes, they are also linked to a range of adverse effects that can impact treatment tolerability and quality of life. This comprehensive review offers an in-depth exploration of taxane therapy in breast cancer, with a focus on clinical perspectives and toxicity profiles. We delineate the mechanisms of action of taxanes, their clinical effectiveness across various breast cancer subtypes, and the prevalent adverse effects encountered in clinical practice. Moreover, we deliberate on strategies for mitigating taxane-associated toxicity and optimizing treatment selection and sequencing based on individual patient characteristics and therapeutic objectives. Finally, we underscore areas for future research and advancement, encompassing the development of novel formulations, the identification of predictive biomarkers for treatment response, and the exploration of combination therapies to bolster therapeutic outcomes. By amalgamating existing evidence and clinical insights, this review aims to apprise clinicians and researchers of the current status of taxane treatment in breast cancer and steer endeavors toward further enhancing patient care and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The use of taxanes following the first trimester of pregnancy is endorsed by current clinical guidelines. However, evidence regarding their safety in terms of obstetric and neonatal outcomes is limited.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Web of Sciences databases from their inception up to 12/16/2022. Eligibility criteria included gestational taxane use, presentation of original findings, and individual case data presented. A descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken.
RESULTS: A total of 159 patients treated with taxane-containing regimens during pregnancy were identified, resulting in 162 fetuses exposed in utero. The majority of patients had breast cancer (n = 88; 55.3%) or cervical cancer (n = 45; 28.3%). The most commonly employed taxane was paclitaxel (n = 131; 82.4%). A total of 111 (69.8%) patients were also treated with other cytotoxic drugs during pregnancy, including platinum salts (n = 70; 63.0%) and doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (n = 20; 18.0%). While most patients received taxanes during the second trimester of pregnancy (n = 79; 70.0%), two were exposed to taxanes in the first trimester. Obstetric outcomes were reported in 105 (66.0%) cases, with the most frequent adverse events being preterm contractions or premature rupture of membranes (n = 12; 11.4%), pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (n = 6; 5.7%), and oligohydramnios/anhydramnios (n = 6; 5.7%). All cases with pregnancy outcome available resulted in live births (n = 132). Overall, 72 (54.5%) neonates were delivered preterm, 40 (30.3%) were classified as small for gestational age (SGA), and 2 (1.5%) had an Apgar score of < 7 at 5 min. Perinatal complications included acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 14; 10.6%), hyperbilirubinemia (n = 5; 3.8%), and hypoglycemia (n = 2; 1.5%). In addition, 7 (5.3%) cases of congenital malformations were reported. At a median follow-up of 16 months, offspring health status was available for 86 (65.2%), of which 13 (15.1%) had a documented complication, including delayed speech development, recurrent otitis media, and acute myeloid leukemia.
CONCLUSIONS: Taxanes appear to be safe following the first trimester of pregnancy, with obstetric and fetal outcomes being similar to those observed in the general obstetric population. Future studies should aim to determine the most effective taxane regimen and dosage for use during gestation, with a specific focus on treatment safety.

Taxanes in the treatment of cancer are associated with a significant incidence of hypersensitivity reactions, which may preclude their use in patients in need of first line therapy. Drug desensitization induces transient immunological tolerance and has allowed the reintroduction of taxanes in highly allergic patients. Increase the knowledge of hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) during the administration of taxanes. A systematic review regarding the safety and efficacy of rapid drug desensitization (RDD) for taxanes HSR. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, was registered in PROSPERO(CRD42021242324) and a comprehensive search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus databases. 25 studies encompassing 10 countries were identified and 976 patients with initial HSR to paclitaxel (n = 707) and docetaxel (n = 284), that underwent a total of 2,396 desensitizations. The most common symptoms were cutaneous (74.6%) with paclitaxel and respiratory (72.6%) with docetaxel. Severe initial hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis occurred in 39.6% and 13% of paclitaxel and docetaxel cases respectively and during the first (87.4%) or second exposure (81.5%). Patients tolerated well RDD and breakthrough reactions (BTR) occurred in 32.2% of paclitaxel-treated patients and in 20.6% of docetaxel treated patients. Premedications included corticosteroids, antihistamines and leukotriene receptor antagonists. The most commonly used protocol was the BWH 3 bags 12 steps, all protocols showed a success rate between 95-100%, with no reported deaths. RDD is a safe and effective procedure in patients with HSR to taxanes and protocols should be standardized for wide range implementation.

Chemotherapy is often a cause of premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility since the ovarian follicles are extremely sensitive to the effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Different chemotherapeutic agents with varying mechanisms of action may damage ovarian function differently. Taxanes are widely used in clinical cancer treatment, but the specific reproductive toxicological information is still controversial. This review described the impact and duration of taxanes on ovarian function in women and analyzed the possible reasons for different conclusions. Furthermore, the toxicity of taxanes on ovarian function and its possible mechanisms were discussed. The potential protective strategies and agents against ovarian damage induced by taxanes are also reviewed.

Fluoropyrimidine plus platinum (FP) and taxanes plus platinum (TP) are standard treatments for esophageal cancer (EC). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to explore the difference in the therapeutic effect and toxicity of FP and TP regimens in EC patients. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were fully searched and analyzed to find relevant articles on EC patients treated with FP and TP regimens up to 22 March 2022. Thirty-one studies, with a total of 3432 participants, were included in this review. The primary outcomes showed that the prognosis and therapeutic efficacy of TP groups were better than those of FP groups for the EC patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy treatment (3-year OS: RR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.08−1.44, p = 0.003; 3-year PFS: RR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.17−1.75, p = 0.0006; ORR: RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06−1.29, p = 0.001). However, TP therapy was significantly correlated with a higher incidence of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia (p < 0.05). In the preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy group, these two groups had a similar survival time (p > 0.05). The FP regimen corresponded to a higher incidence of thrombocytopenia, while the TP regimen was associated with an increased incidence of febrile leukopenia (p < 0.05). Therefore, TP regimens could generate both superior clinical response and survival benefits when compared with FP regimens in EC patients undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Scleroderma is a rare complication in taxanes therapy. Although individual cases of taxanes-induced scleroderma have been reported, the clinical manifestation and treatment outcomes were reviewed and summarized rarely. This study reported a patient who developed diffuse scleroderma and possible scleroderma renal crisis after paclitaxel therapy for ureter cancer.
METHODS: A PubMed literature review on published cases of taxanes-induced scleroderma up until April 2022 was included for analysis.
RESULTS: The search identified 27 patients with adequate information for analysis. Of the 28 patients, including the one presented here, 22 were female. Peripheral edema was the most common symptom in all but one patient, and often accompanied by erythema in 11. Symptoms usually occurred in half of the patients within the 4th course of treatment. Skin lesions gradually progressed to skin fibrosis, and extended proximally. Internal organ involvements were uncommon. Antinuclear antibody tests were positive occasionally, but anti-Scl70 and anti-centromere usually were negative. Taxanes therapy was discontinued, continued and unavailable in 21, 3, and 4 patients, respectively. Corticosteroids for skin lesions with or without immunosuppressive drugs were given to 15 patients. Of 25 patients with available skin outcomes, 19 improved. There was no significant skin improvement between those who did or did not receive skin treatment (62.5% vs. 75.0%, p = 0.37). Skin usually improved after discontinuing taxanes.
CONCLUSIONS: Taxanes-induced scleroderma is different from idiopathic scleroderma. Physicians should be aware of this condition in order to provide early diagnosis and apply appropriate management in order to avoid serious complications from severe skin sclerosis. Key Points • Scleroderma is a rare but unique and serious complication of taxanes therapy • Skin manifestations and distribution are similar to idiopathic scleroderma, but vascular phenomenon, internal organ involvement and scleroderma-associated auto-antibodies are presented rarely. Skin improvement usually occurs shortly after discontinuing taxanes • The role of immunosuppressive therapy in treating taxanes-induced scleroderma is not clear.

BACKGROUND: Long-term benefit of nanoparticle-albumin-bound paclitaxel (Nab-P) over conventional taxanes in breast cancer patients is still controversial. We conducted a systematic review of studies to identify the optimal taxanes for selection in clinical practice.
METHODS: We enrolled studies if they enrolled adults (age ≥18) with breast cancer, compared Nab-P (at any dose) to conventional paclitaxel or docetaxel, provided information on survival data, the response rate, or adverse events, were randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, or cohort studies, and were published in English (including those published online, ahead of the print publication). Cochrane Collaboration tool and Newcastle-Ottawa scale were used for bias-risk assessment. Grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation approach were adopted for the quality of evidence evaluation. The outcomes included the overall response rate, pathological complete response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, allergic reaction, leukopenia, neutropenia, and sensory neuropathy.
RESULTS: A total of 20 eligible clinical studies comprising 11,046 patients were included in the analysis. No significant publication bias was observed based on a visual inspection of the funnel plots for progressionfree survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Compared to the conventional taxanes group (n=2,743), the Nab-P group (n=1,680) had a significantly higher ORR (RR =1.21, 95% CI: 1.07-1.37; P=0.003) and pCR (RR =1.33, 95% CI: 1.17-1.51; P<0.001). The Nab-P group also had a lower risk of disease progression and death than the conventional taxanes group (HR =0.89, P=0.269). Additionally, the Nab-P group had fewer treatment-related allergic reactions (RR =0.74, 95% CI: 0.59-0.93; P=0.009) and less grade ≥4 neutropenia (RR =0.39, 95% CI: 0.20-0.77; P=0.007) than the conventional taxanes group. The incidence of any-grade of neutropenia and sensory neuropathy were significantly higher in the Nab-P group than the conventional taxanes group (P=0.009 and P<0.001, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: The Nab-P in all stages of breast cancer patients had significantly better efficacy and tolerance than the conventional taxanes. Moreover, preventive strategies for reducing the incidence of Nab-P induced sensory neuropathy should be explored in future studies.

Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) is an innovative form of taxane that has superior antitumor effects; however, the safety profile between nab-paclitaxel and traditional taxanes remains controversial.
To determine the burden of adverse events (AEs) in patients with multiple malignancies receiving nab-paclitaxel compared with that in patients receiving traditional taxanes.
Randomized clinical trials comparing nab-paclitaxel with traditional taxanes (solvent-based paclitaxel [sb-paclitaxel] or docetaxel) in the treatment of primary solid-organ malignancies were included if AEs were reported as an outcome. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the summary odds ratio (OR) of the relevant adverse outcomes related to nab-paclitaxel and traditional taxanes. Prespecified subgroup analyses based on intervention and doses, primary tumor sites, and different ethnic groups were also performed.
Twelve clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis. Grade 3/4 anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neurotoxicity were more frequent with nab-paclitaxel than with traditional taxanes. Nab-paclitaxel at 100 or 125 mg/m2/w dosage was associated with fewer or similar grade 3/4 specific AEs. Allergy was less common with nab-paclitaxel. The median recovery times of neurotoxicity were 25, 64, and 37 days in patients receiving nab-paclitaxel, sb-paclitaxel, and docetaxel, respectively. Elevated incidences of specific AEs were more common in breast cancer and non-Asian patients than in other malignancies and ethnic groups, respectively.
Nab-paclitaxel increased the risk of hematologic and non-hematologic AEs in general, but anaphylaxis was less common, and the recovery duration of neurotoxicity was shorter. Weekly administration of nab-paclitaxel at a lower dosage provided better tolerance.

Over the last two decades, there has been significant progress in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. Multiple treatments with diverse mechanisms of action have improved clinical outcomes for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) including taxane chemotherapy, immunotherapy, potent androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPI), and radiopharmaceuticals (radium-223). As these treatments have entered standard clinical practise, clinicians have been challenged on how to optimally select and sequence them as the landmark studies establishing their efficacy had control arms with placebo or minimally effective therapy and there is a paucity of prospective trials examining treatment sequencing. More recently, the situation has been further complicated as the earlier up-front use of docetaxel and ARPI with standard gonadal testosterone inhibition has been shown to impart substantial improvements in disease control and survival for patients with castration sensitive prostate cancer. As new therapies enter into clinical practise such as the inhibitors of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase and Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-targeted therapy, how to optimally select and sequence available treatments will be a continued dilemma in the absence of validated predictive biomarkers. This review will summarize the literature supporting the use of each active agent in mCRPC. We will propose a framework which will guide the selection of appropriate agents based on prior therapies, disease characteristics and biomarkers.