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Chemotherapy-induced Vascular Toxicity - Real-time In vivo Imaging of Vessel Impairment
Published on: January 7, 2015
Vascular toxicity of antineoplastic agents
Nasir Shahab1, Syed Haider, Donald C Doll
1Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Medical Oncology, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65203, USA. shahabna@health.missouri.edu
Seminars in Oncology
|February 14, 2006
Summary
Cancer chemotherapy can cause vascular toxicity, often overlooked due to similar symptoms from cancer or other causes. Recognizing these chemotherapy-induced vascular syndromes is crucial for patient care.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Vascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Vascular toxicity is an under-recognized adverse effect of cancer chemotherapy.
- Symptoms of vascular toxicity can be mistaken for cancer-related complications or occur independently.
- Cancer itself can induce a hypercoagulable state, complicating the diagnosis of treatment-related vascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and highlight the spectrum of vascular syndromes associated with antineoplastic agents.
- To emphasize the importance of recognizing chemotherapy-induced vascular toxicity.
- To underscore the potential for minimizing patient morbidity and mortality through timely identification.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of reported vascular syndromes linked to antineoplastic therapies.
- Analysis of the range of vascular phenomena, from phlebitis to microangiopathy.
- Synthesis of information on the attribution of vascular events to malignancy versus treatment.
Main Results:
- Various antineoplastic therapies are associated with a range of vascular complications.
- These complications span from superficial phlebitis to severe, life-threatening microangiopathy.
- Vascular events are frequently under-recognized or misattributed.
Conclusions:
- Awareness and recognition of chemotherapy-induced vascular toxicity are critical.
- Prompt identification can lead to better management of adverse events.
- Minimizing morbidity and preventing deaths associated with these vascular syndromes is achievable through vigilance.
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