Extracellular Vesicles and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Italy120 participantsStarted 2025-01-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the blood can be used as biomarkers to predict chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in adult cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with taxanes, platinum compounds, or antimitotic drugs. The main questions the study aims to answer are whether blood levels of EVs change in patients who develop CIPN during and after chemotherapy and whether specific features of EVs, including lipids and microRNAs, are associated with the development and severity of CIPN. Participants will be followed from before the start of chemotherapy until six months after treatment ends to evaluate how changes in EVs relate to nerve damage caused by chemotherapy. During the study, participants will provide blood samples before chemotherapy, at the end of treatment, and six months later for measurement and molecular analysis of EVs, will complete questionnaires about neuropathy symptoms, and will undergo simple, non-invasive nerve function tests using a tuning fork (diapason) and a Neuropen device. This study does not test cancer drugs; instead, it aims to identify biological markers in blood that may help predict which patients are at higher risk of developing CIPN, with the goal of improving monitoring and care during cancer treatment.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Has signed the informed consent form
* Is 18 years of age or older
* Is male or female
* Has breast cancer and is scheduled to receive paclitaxel, docetaxel, eribulin, capecitabine, or carboplatin as part of standard care
* Has gastrointestinal cancer and is scheduled to receive oxaliplatin or capecitabine as part of standard care
* Has lung cancer and is scheduled to receive cisplatin, carboplatin, or docetaxel as part of standard care
* Has urologic cancer and is scheduled to receive carboplatin, cisplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, or enfortumab vedotin as part of standard care
* Has head and neck cancer and is scheduled to receive carboplatin, paclitaxel, or cisplatin as part of standard care
Exclusion Criteria:
* Has already been diagnosed with CIPN
* Has a neurodegenerative disease
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change from Baseline in Circulating EV Concentration
Timeframe: 11 months from enrollment (T0), to completion of chemotherapy (T2)
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07558447
SponsorFondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico