695: Cancer Treatment Effects on Sensory and Pain Processing in children/adolescents - systematic review

Topic: Experimental (Non-clinical) Human Studies
Subtopic: Pain Category (ICD-11), Chronic cancer related pain, Psychology, Assessment and Measurement of Pain/Nociception, Quantitative Sensory testing (static and dynamic, e.g., HPT, PPT, CPM, TSP, offset analgesia)

Background and Aims: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy remains a major complication in pediatric cancer, with disrupted somatosensory and nociceptive processing being a key aspect (Bjornard et al., 2018; Ramchandren et al., 2009; Zajączkowska et al., 2019). This review synthesizes empirical studies on alterations in somatosensory and nociceptive processing in children and adolescents with cancer.

Methods: We conducted this review in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and preregistered it in PROSPERO. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science in April 2025. Eligible studies were screened by two independent reviewers and synthesized narratively. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa-Quality-Assessment-Scale for Case-Control-Studies.

Results: We conducted this review in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and preregistered it in PROSPERO. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science in April 2025. Eligible studies were screened by two independent reviewers and synthesized narratively. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa-Quality-Assessment-Scale for Case-Control-Studies.

Conclusions: Despite the limited number of studies, this systematic review provides consistent evidence that pediatric cancer or its treatment, respectively, is associated with lasting changes in somatosensory and nociceptive processing, with decreased somatosensory detection and increased pain responses to supra-(pain)threshold intensities. These alterations may be due to peripheral neural damage as well as central sensitization and mirror patterns found in peripheral neuropathies (e.g. in children with type 1 diabetes). Moving forward, research priorities should include longitudinal studies that track changes in somatosensory and nociceptive processing over the course of treatment in large sample sizes.

References: Bjornard, K. L., Gilchrist, L. S., Inaba, H., Diouf, B., Hockenberry, M. J., Kadan-Lottick, N. S., Bowers, D. C., Dolan, M. E., Ullrich, N. J., Evans, W. E. & Ness, K. K. (2018). Peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescents treated for cancer. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(10), 744–754. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2352-4642(18)30236-0

Ramchandren, S., Leonard, M., Mody, R. J., Donohue, J. E., Moyer, J., Hutchinson, R., & Gurney, J. G. (2009). Peripheral neuropathy in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, 14(3), 184–189. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8027.2009.00230.x

Zajączkowska, R., Kocot-Kępska, M., Leppert, W., Wrzosek, A., Mika, J. & Wordliczek, J. (2019). Mechanisms of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(6), 1451. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20061451

Presenting Author: Miriam Kunz
Submitting Author: Miriam Kunz

Senior Author: Miriam Kunz

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: Yes

• Julia Schweiger - University of Augsburg
• Laura Walz - University of Augsburg
• Michale C. Frühwald - University of Augsburg
• Stefan Lautenbacher - University of Augsburg
• Miriam Kunz - University of Augsburg