Early Detection and Prevention of Neuropathy and Cognitive Impairment Following Treatment for Haematological Malignancies (the NOVIT Study)

Haematological malignancies can be treated with chemotherapy if the patient tolerates the treatment. However, many patients develop complications during treatment including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and/or impaired memory. Even though it is a well-known complication, no gold standard for CIPN assessment is known. Besides chemotherapy reduction or cessation, there is so far no sufficient prevention or treatment, therefore early detection and intervention is crucial.

The main purpose of this study is to find a reliable test for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in order to predict early signs of CIPN. All included patients has to be scheduled for treatment with vincristine, bortezomib or lenalidomide regardless of haematological malignancy. Neuropathy and cognitive impairment will be tested at baseline (prior to treatment with chemotherapy), before each treatment course, 1 month after treatment and finally 1 year after onset of chemotherapy. CIPN will be examined by different methods: Clinician-based assessment, objective neurophysiological parameters and patient-reported outcome. A novel test using Perception Threshold Tracking (PTT), developed at Aalborg University, is included in the study. The test investigates the nerve excitability in both large and small fiber nerve fibers using two different electrodes. Blood samples will be collected, stored, and analyzed for deficiencies correlated to neuropathy.