Lamotrigine in Treating Peripheral Neuropathy Caused by Chemotherapy in Patients With Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Diagnosis of cancer
• •Received, or are currently receiving, neurotoxic chemotherapy, including any of the following:
• •* Taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel or docetaxel)
• •* Platinum-based compounds (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, or oxaliplatin)
• •* Vinca alkaloids (e.g., vincristine or vinblastine)
• •Experiencing pain or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy for at least 1 month attributed to chemotherapy
• •* Average daily pain rating of at least 4 out of 10 OR
• •* Peripheral neuropathy at least grade 1 out of 3 using ECOG sensory neuropathy rating
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age
• •18 and over
• •Life expectancy
• •At least 6 months
• •Hepatic
• •Bilirubin \< 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •Renal
• •Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• •Other
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No prior allergic reaction or intolerance to lamotrigine
• •No extreme difficulty swallowing pills
• •No other identified causes of painful paresthesia preceding chemotherapy, including any of the following:
• •* Radiation or malignant plexopathy
• •* Lumbar or cervical radiculopathy
• •* Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of another etiology, such as any of the following:
• •* Cyanocobalamin deficiency
• •* AIDS
• •* Monoclonal gammopathy
• •* Diabetes
• •* Heavy metal poisoning amyloidosis
• •* Syphilis
• •* Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
• •* Inherited neuropathy
• •No significant psychiatric illness (e.g., mania, psychosis, or schizophrenia) that would preclude study participation
• •Able to complete questionnaires
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Chemotherapy
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •More than 7 days since prior methotrexate or other dihydrofolate inhibitors
• •Other
• •More than 7 days since prior, and no concurrent use of any of the following:
• •* Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or desipramine)
• •* Concurrent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors allowed
• •* Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• •* Opioid analgesics
• •* Anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin, topiramate, valproic acid, or clonazepam)
• •* Adjuvant analgesics (e.g., mexiletine)
• •* Prior nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs allowed
• •* Topical analgesics (e.g., lidocaine gel or patch) to the affected area
• •* Amifostine
• •More than 30 days since prior investigational agents for pain control
• •No other concurrent investigational agents for pain control