Gabapentin in Treating Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Has received or is currently receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy, including taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel or docetaxel), platinum-based compounds (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, or oxaliplatin), or vinca alkaloids (e.g., vincristine or vinblastine)
• Pain or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy of at least 1 month duration attributed to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
• * Average daily pain rating of at least 4 out of 10 using the pain numerical rating scale (where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain possible) OR
• * Evidence of peripheral neuropathy of at least grade 1 out of 3 by ECOG Common
• * Toxicity Criteria for sensory neuropathy
• No other identified causes of painful paresthesia existing prior to chemotherapy
• * No radiotherapy-induced or malignant plexopathy
• * No lumbar or cervical radiculopathy
• * No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of another etiology, including:
• * B12 deficiency
• * AIDS
• * Monoclonal gammopathy
• * Diabetes
• * Heavy metal poisoning
• * Amyloidosis
• * Syphilis
• * Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
• * Inherited neuropathy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Life expectancy:
• At least 6 months
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal
• Other:
• No prior allergic reaction or intolerance to gabapentin
• No significant psychiatric illness (e.g., mania, psychosis, or schizophrenia) that would preclude study compliance
• No extreme difficulty swallowing pills
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Other:
• More than 30 days since prior investigational agent for pain control
• Concurrent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors allowed
• Concurrent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs allowed
• No concurrent tricyclic antidepressant (e.g., amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or desipramine)\*
• No concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitor\*
• No concurrent opioid analgesic\*
• No other concurrent adjuvant analgesic (e.g., anticonvulsant, clonazepam, or mexiletine)\*
• No concurrent topical analgesics (e.g., lidocaine gel or lidocaine patch)\*
• No concurrent amifostine
• No concurrent investigational agent for pain control NOTE: \* For pain or symptoms due to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy