Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemotherapy-Related Toxicities and Management

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Brain Tumors

  • 202 Accesses

Abstract

Chemotherapy has a growing and evolving role in the management of primary brain tumors and administration varies from single agent oral regimens to more complex multi-agent regimens and intravenous formulations. Understanding common and rare toxicities of chemotherapy is critical for optimal management of patients with brain tumors in order to ensure that they are being treated with appropriate doses and to maintain quality of life. In this chapter, we review the most common chemotherapy regimens used today for patients with brain tumors, we discuss their dosing, drug toxicity monitoring and the most common side effects. Common issues related to cytotoxic chemotherapies include nausea and vomiting, anorexia, fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, cytopenias and impact on reproduction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 24.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 32.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Merck IWS, NJ, USA. Temodar (Temozolomide) [Package Insert]. US Food and Drug Administration. Revised 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals IG, MD. Matulane (Procarbazine) [Package Insert]. US Food and Drug Administration. Revised 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hospira ILF, IL. Vincristine sulfate [Package Insert]. US Food and Drug Administration. Revised 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jutras G, Belanger K, Letarte N, et al. Procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine toxicity in low-grade gliomas. Curr Oncol. 2018;25(1):e33–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. O’Driscoll BR, Hasleton PS, Taylor PM, Poulter LW, Gattameneni HR, Woodcock AA. Active lung fibrosis up to 17 years after chemotherapy with carmustine (BCNU) in childhood. N Engl J Med. 1990;323(6):378–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company P, NJ. BiCNU (Carmustine) [Package Insert]. US Food and Drug Administration. Revised 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  7. NextSource Biotechnology M, FL. Gleostine (Lomustine) [Package Insert]. US Food and Drug Administration. Revised 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Genentech ISSF, CA. Avastin (Bevacizumab) [Package Insert]. US Food and Drug Administration. Revised 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Pfizer Injectables. NY N. Camptosar (Irinotecan) [Package Insert]. US Food and Drug Administration. Revised 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Smith EM, Pang H, Cirrincione C, et al. Effect of duloxetine on pain, function, and quality of life among patients with chemotherapy-induced painful peripheral neuropathy: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013;309(13):1359–67.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Momota H, Narita Y, Miyakita Y, Shibui S. Secondary hematological malignancies associated with temozolomide in patients with glioma. Neuro Oncol. 2013;15(10):1445–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    David Schiff

  2. Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Haroon Ahmad

Authors
  1. Haroon Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David Schiff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Haroon Ahmad .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Nimish A. Mohile

  2. Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA

    Alissa A. Thomas

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ahmad, H., Schiff, D. (2023). Chemotherapy-Related Toxicities and Management. In: Mohile, N.A., Thomas, A.A. (eds) Brain Tumors. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41413-8_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41413-8_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-41412-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-41413-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation