The Nerve of Chemo: Unpacking Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Survivors

Project Summary
Advancements in cancer treatment are enabling breast cancer survivors to live longer, highlighting the need for
more research on their ongoing needs after chemotherapy. By 2030, there are expected to be 4.9 million
breast cancer survivors in the United States (US). Black women, in particular, face significant differences in
breast cancer outcomes compared to other racial and ethnic groups. For example, Black women are frequently
diagnosed at later stages, are twice as likely to develop aggressive cancers such as triple-negative breast
cancer, which necessitates chemotherapy treatment, and have a 40% higher mortality rate compared to White
women. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), can be a debilitating side effect following
treatment among breast cancer survivors. CIPN symptoms, including numbness, pain, and balance issues, can
impede activities of daily living, substantially lower the quality of life, and lead to psychological distress and
social isolation among patients. Limited research exists on CIPN presentations among Black breast cancer
survivors. Understanding CIPN's impact on treatment decisions and quality of life for Black patients is
important to ultimately reducing symptom burden and improving outcomes among survivors. Data on CIPN
symptoms, severity, and treatment outcomes are needed to inform clinical interventions and improve patient
care. To examine the impact of CIPN on Black breast cancer survivors, this proposed cross-sectional survey
study aims to determine CIPN characteristics and severity among N=125 early-stage (stage I-III) Black breast
cancer survivors following chemotherapy at a large urban academic medical center in the Southeastern US.
Aim 1 will identify CIPN symptoms and severity using patient-reported outcome measures. Aim 2 will examine
associations between CIPN severity and physiological, psychological, and social factors. Aim 3 will
characterize the occurrence in treatment outcomes, such as chemotherapy dose reductions, dose delays, and
treatment discontinuations. This study will illuminate CIPN's impact among Black breast cancer survivors,
informing the design of future longitudinal research and interventions to reduce CIPN's impact and improve
treatment outcomes. During the conduct of this fellowship, the applicant will pursue a rigorous training plan,
under the supervision of an interdisciplinary team of mentors, to cultivate the skills needed to become and
independent researcher. This study will provide the initial data to develop a longitudinal cohort of Black breast
cancer survivors experiencing CIPN. The proposed fellowship aligns with the National Cancer Institute and the
National Institute of Nursing Research’s strategic plans to train the next generation of cancer researchers and
strengthen the cancer workforce while reducing symptom burden and optimizing care outcomes among breast
cancer survivors.

Grant Number: 1F31NR022232-01
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: La-Urshalar Brock