PURPOSE: The aim of this double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study is to investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for reducing the side effects of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with oxaloplatin or paclitaxel. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients were randomly allocated into two groups: active or placebo stimulation. All patients were assessed for pain, numbness/tingiling, frequency of symptoms, and quality of life. The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device was applied daily with modulating frequencies ranging between 7 Hz and 65 Hz in distal limb regions during three cycles of chemotherapy (45 days). The other stimulation parameters were: pulse duration of 200 musec, intensity at the highest tolerable level, and increases in intensity when it diminished. RESULTS: The data showed no difference between active or placebo groups in terms of pain, numbness/tingling, frequency of symptoms or impact on daily life activities. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation applied in the frequency variation mode was not proven to be effective to improve the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy during chemotherapy cycles. There was no worsening of symptoms in subsequent cycles of the onset of symptoms of the disease.

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