Lamotrigine in Treating Peripheral Neuropathy Caused by Chemotherapy in Patients With Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of cancer

• Received, or are currently receiving, neurotoxic chemotherapy, including any of the following:

  • Taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel or docetaxel)
  • Platinum-based compounds (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, or oxaliplatin)
  • Vinca alkaloids (e.g., vincristine or vinblastine)

• Experiencing pain or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy for at least 1 month attributed to chemotherapy

  • Average daily pain rating of at least 4 out of 10 OR
  • Peripheral neuropathy at least grade 1 out of 3 using ECOG sensory neuropathy rating

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Life expectancy

• At least 6 months

Hepatic

• Bilirubin < 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No prior allergic reaction or intolerance to lamotrigine
• No extreme difficulty swallowing pills

• No other identified causes of painful paresthesia preceding chemotherapy, including any of the following:

  • Radiation or malignant plexopathy
  • Lumbar or cervical radiculopathy

  • Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of another etiology, such as any of the following:

    • Cyanocobalamin deficiency
    • AIDS
    • Monoclonal gammopathy
    • Diabetes
    • Heavy metal poisoning amyloidosis
    • Syphilis
    • Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
    • Inherited neuropathy
• No significant psychiatric illness (e.g., mania, psychosis, or schizophrenia) that would preclude study participation
• Able to complete questionnaires

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 7 days since prior methotrexate or other dihydrofolate inhibitors

Other

• More than 7 days since prior, and no concurrent use of any of the following:

  • Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or desipramine)

    • Concurrent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors allowed
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
  • Opioid analgesics
  • Anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin, topiramate, valproic acid, or clonazepam)

  • Adjuvant analgesics (e.g., mexiletine)

    • Prior nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs allowed
  • Topical analgesics (e.g., lidocaine gel or patch) to the affected area
  • Amifostine
• More than 30 days since prior investigational agents for pain control
• No other concurrent investigational agents for pain control