[Radiotherapy and New Cancer Drugs - New Side Effects ?]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2018 Mar;45(3):424-427.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Chemotherapeutic agents(cytotoxic anticancer drugs)have played a central role as cancer drug therapy for a long time. Since the 2000s, molecular targeted drugs have been developed as therapeutic methods that match the standards specifically for cancer cells, and in solid cancers epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) have been approved mainly for drugs targeted. The combination therapy of molecular targeted drugs and radiotherapy has been developed to solve the problem of many adverse events of chemo-radiotherapy. However, cetuximab-combined radiotherapy, which is a typical combination therapy, is not a treatment with few adverse events, centered on acute dermatitis and mucositis, it is important to properly select cases. Similarly, it is necessary to pay attention to specific gastrointestinal obstruction in combination treatment of angiogenesis inhibitor and radiotherapy. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors also have been focused on many cancers and attract attention. To achieve further efficacy, combination therapy with radiotherapy are testing.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Chemoradiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / adverse effects
  • Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents