Evaluating the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in the management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a pilot trial (NEUROLIGHT trial)

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of chemotherapy that hinders the patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQL). Managing CIPN often requires a chemotherapy dose reduction or premature cessation of treatment. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy uses visible or (near)-infrared light to target tissue and stimulate cell repair processes. This trial aimed to evaluate PBM’s efficacy in managing CIPN. A randomised, controlled trial was performed with sixty cancer patients with CIPN at Jessa Hospital (Belgium). Patients underwent six PBM sessions with a fluence of 6 J/cm² (PBM-1, n = 28) or 8 J/cm² (PBM-2, n = 32). The modified Total Neuropathy Score (mTNS) and Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) were performed to assess the CIPN severity and mobility. Questionnaires (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity, FACT/GOG-NTX) were administered to evaluate the pain, satisfaction, and HRQL. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov on the 6th of January 2022 (NCT05199389). The mTNS and 6MWT improved significantly over time (P = 0.048 and P < 0.001, respectively). No significant differences could be detected for the FACT/GOG-NTX total score, nor its neurotoxicity subscale. The pain scores improved over time (P < 0.001), with better scores in the PBM-1 group (P = 0.034). The NEUROLIGHT trial revealed a significant improvement in CIPN symptoms and mobility. PBM applied with a fluence of 6 J/cm² could be more capable of soothing the pain caused by CIPN. No improvements could be detected in HRQL. Future research is necessary to support these findings.