Anticancer drugs and central nervous system: clinical issues for patients and physicians

Cancer Lett. 2008 Aug 18;267(1):1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2008.02.051. Epub 2008 Apr 1.

Abstract

Anticancer drugs may cause neurological toxicity involving the central nervous system. Patients receiving anticancer treatment may develop encephalopathy, extrapyramidal reactions, seizures, cerebellar dysfunction, retinopathy, cerebral venous thrombosis, myelopathy, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric symptoms. Physician should carefully evaluate neurological signs and symptoms in order to recognize these drug-related adverse reactions. In this review we aimed at presenting different neurological complications of anticancer drugs and their management. PUBMED search was performed in order to retrieve all articles and case reports dealing with central nervous system toxicity related to anticancer treatments.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Cognition Disorders / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / chemically induced
  • Retinal Diseases / chemically induced

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents