Vincristine

Excerpt

Vincristine is a chemotherapy medication used to treat various types of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and Wilms tumor. Vincristine belongs to the category of vinca alkaloids, a class of drugs that function by impeding the proper division of cancer cells. This drug inhibits cell growth by disrupting mitosis by interfering with microtubule polymerization. Vincristine is also utilized off-label for central nervous system (CNS) tumors, Ewing sarcoma, gestational trophoblastic tumors, multiple myeloma, ovarian cancer, primary CNS lymphoma, small cell lung cancer, and advanced thymoma in adult patients. This therapeutic review evaluates vincristine's role in diverse cancer treatment protocols, including combination therapies. This activity identifies common and rare adverse effects of vincristine while developing strategies for managing and minimizing toxicities associated with the drug. This activity considers long-term outcomes of patients, encompassing disease remission, survival rates, and quality of life. The aim is to equip healthcare professionals with the requisite knowledge and skills for ensuring the safe and effective care of patients receiving vincristine, ultimately contributing to enhanced patient outcomes within the field of oncology practice.