Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Breast Cancer Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

1. All patients age ≥ 18 and \< 70 years old with confirmed stage from stage I to stage III.
2. No evidence of metastases at initial assessment.
3. Patients has to have a good performance status (ECOG 0-2) according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score.
4. Adequate baseline hematologic values (absolute neutrophilic count ≥ 1.5 × 109/L, platelet count ≥ 100 × 109/L, and hemoglobin level ≥ 10g/dL).
5. Patients with adequate liver function (serum creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL) and adequate renal function (serum creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL, creatinine clearance (CrCl) \> 45 ml/min).
6. Either pre operative or post operative chemotherapy are allowed.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Evidence of metastases at initial assessment.
2. Pregnancy or breast-feeding patients.
3. Prior exposure to neurotoxic chemotherapy was not allowed (no carboplatin, vincristine, vinblastine, paclitaxel, or docetaxol ) for 6 months prior study treatment.
4. Clinical evidence of serious cardiac illness (myocardial dysfunctional, angina pectoris requiring anti-angina medication, poorly controlled hypertension, and uncontrolled arrhythmias).
5. Patients with a reduced cardiac output with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ejection fraction \< 50%.
6. Patients who had evidence of pre-existing peripheral neuropathy resulting from another reason (diabetes).
7. Patients with a history of allergy to alpha-lipoic acid.
8. Concomitant use of multivitamins (vitamin E), opioids, anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, other neuropathic pain medication modifying agents (e.g., gabapentin, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, or tricyclic antidepressants) are not allowed