Treatment and diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: An update

When peripheral neuropathy occurs due to chemotherapy treatment, it is referred to as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Typically, symptoms are sensory rather than motor and include reduced feeling and heightened sensitivity to pressure, pain, temperature, and touch. The pathophysiology of CIPN is very complex, and it involves multiple mechanisms leading to its development which will be described specifically for each chemotherapeutic class. There are currently no approved or effective agents for CIPN prevention, and Duloxetine is the only medication that is an effective treatment against CIPN. There is an unavoidable necessity to develop preventative and treatment approaches for CIPN due to its detrimental impact on patients' lives. The purpose of this review is to examine CIPN, innovative pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy and preventive strategies for this illness, and future perspectives for this condition and its therapies. •CIPN is a common complication of chemotherapy that significantly impairs patients' lives. In addition to the discomfort, CIPN patients have a larger financial burden than non-CIPN patients. CIPN is difficult to treat, assess, and diagnose.•Various assessment and diagnostic procedures are available, but none are currently standardized. Finding a cure for CIPN is difficult since the pathogenesis is unknown. To prevent and cure this condition, numerous different pharmacological and non-pharmacological medications have been tested.•Many therapies, such as IV lidocaine, cannabinoids, oral glutamine, cryotherapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and exercise, show tremendous potential but require more research. Others, like calcium, magnesium, TCAs, and nabiximols, were ineffective and required additional testing.•Some medicines, such as EPO and ALC, can increase the risk and severity of CIPN and should be avoided.•It is hoped that by better understanding the mechanism, a therapeutic might assist in treating this ailment. Until then, duloxetine is the sole approved CIPN medication, and Nonpharmacological therapy has helped some people and may benefit others.