Vincristine: Beyond on anticancer treatment

Abstract

Vincristine is a chemotherapeutic agent that is a component of many combination regimens for a variety of malignancies, including several common pediatric tumors.78% of patients with advanced malignant disease were treated with vincristine, an alkaloid derived from vinca rosea Linn, 59% of these survived from the beginning of treatment and could be evaluated. Favourable responses were seen in patients with Hodking's disease, reticulum cell sarcoma, lymphosarcoma, carcinoma of the breast, acute leukemia and choriocarcinoma. Toxic include a high incidence of alopecia and neurologic complications. Vincristine treatment is limited by a progressive sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy. Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is particularly challenging to detect and monitor in pediatric patients, in whom the side effect can diminish long term quality of life. Further research is needed to predict, prevent, and treat disease to maximize therapeutic benefit and avoid unnecessary toxicity from vincristine treatment.