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Central and peripheral nervous system toxicity of common chemotherapeutic agents

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Abstract

Central and peripheral nervous system toxicity are frequent complications of most chemotherapy regimens, often leading to reduction of dosages or cessation of the responsible drugs. However, sometimes the afflicted toxicity may not be reversible, especially if it is not recognized early, further compromising the quality of life of the cancer patients. The most common chemotherapeutic agents that might cause CNS toxicity manifested as encephalopathy of various severities include methotrexate, vincristine, ifosfamide, cyclosporine, fludarabine, cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin and the interferons (alpha > beta). Involvement of the peripheral nervous system manifested as distal peripheral neuropathy results after therapy with cisplatin, vincristine, taxanes, suramin and thalidomide. Although several compounds have been proposed as neuroprotective agents, few have been shown to be active against the chemotherapy induced neurotoxicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgical Research Institute, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece

    Chrissa Sioka & Athanassios P. Kyritsis

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece

    Chrissa Sioka

  3. Department of Neurology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, University Campus, 45110, Ioannina, Greece

    Athanassios P. Kyritsis

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  1. Chrissa Sioka
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Correspondence to Athanassios P. Kyritsis.

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Sioka, C., Kyritsis, A.P. Central and peripheral nervous system toxicity of common chemotherapeutic agents. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 63, 761–767 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-008-0876-6

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