Neuropathy with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A meta-analysis.

Objective: To explore the association of peripheral neuropathy with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs) use in patients with cancer.

Methods: Published data search up to November 2018 reporting peripheral neuropathy in patients with cancer treated with VEGFR-TKIs was performed. The primary outcome was presence of peripheral neuropathy at the end of the trial. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate relative risk (RR) of individual treatment.

Results: Thirty randomized clinical trials (RCTs) including 12,490 patients with cancer were included in this analysis. Eight studies compared VEGFR-TKIs with placebo and the remaining studies compared VEGFR-TKIs with the standard chemotherapeutic regimen. When compared against placebo, VEGFR-TKIs were associated with a higher risk of peripheral neuropathy (RR 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-2.75, = 0.01). Similarly, a stronger association was noted for sensory neuropathy with VEGFR-TKIs monotherapy (RR 1.61; 95% CI 1.09-2.37, = 0.02). Risk of peripheral neuropathy with VEGFR-TKIs was higher even when they were compared against control (either placebo or standard chemotherapeutic agents) (RR 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.15, = 0.03). High-grade neuropathy (RR 1.28; 95% CI 1.06-1.54, <0.01) and high-grade sensory neuropathy (RR 1.38; 95% CI 1.09-1.74, < 0.01) were noted more frequently with VEGFR-TKIs treatment compared against control.

Conclusions: VEGFR-TKIs therapy appeared to be associated with an increased risk of neuropathy.