skip to main content

CIPN — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasySupportive & Palliative OncologyCIPNSCE Medical Oncology

A 58-year-old woman with advanced ovarian cancer is receiving weekly paclitaxel and developing progressive chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). She asks about dose modification. At what CTCAE grade of CIPN should paclitaxel typically be held?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Grade 2 — hold until resolution to ≤grade 1 then resume at reduced dose

For paclitaxel-induced CIPN, treatment should be held at grade 2 (moderate symptoms limiting instrumental ADL) until recovery to ≤grade 1, then resumed at a reduced dose. For grade 3+ (severe, limiting self-care ADL), discontinuation should be strongly considered. There are no effective neuroprotective agents for paclitaxel-induced CIPN. Dose-dense (weekly) paclitaxel allows closer dose modification compared with 3-weekly regimens. Monitoring for CIPN should occur before each cycle.

Reference: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/cancer