(P21-006-24) Impact of Dietary Quality on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Colon Cancer Survivors

Objectives: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and dose-limiting chemotoxicity associated with oxaliplatin, a first-line chemotherapy for colon cancer. This study investigated the relationship between dietary quality at the start of chemotherapy and the incidence of moderate and/or severe CIPN in colon cancer survivors.

Methods: Diet quality was collected using a 127-item food frequency questionnaire and scored using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010). CIPN was assessed with the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) at each chemotherapy cycle. The association of dietary quality and individual dietary components of each score with time to first moderate and severe (moderate+) or severe event of neuropathy was determined using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: Higher dietary quality by the AHEI-2010 was associated with a statistically significantly decreased risk of moderate+ CIPN [Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93, 0.99] and severe CIPN [HR: 0.91 (0.85, 0.98)]. Servings per day of red and processed meat [HR: 1.78 (1.07, 2.83)] and sugar-sweetened beverages [HR: 1.33 (1.10, 1.59)] increased the risk of moderate+ CIPN. Servings per day of sugar-sweetened beverages increased the risk of severe CIPN [HR: 1.57 (1.14, 2.18)] while vegetables reduced the risk of severe CIPN [HR: 0.29 (0.09, 0.73)].

Conclusions: Among patients with colon cancer receiving chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, higher baseline dietary quality reduced the risk of moderate and/or severe CIPN.

Funding Sources: National Cancer Institute