Neurologic complications of chemotherapy for children with cancer

Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2003 Mar;3(2):137-42. doi: 10.1007/s11910-003-0065-2.

Abstract

Survival rates for children with cancer have increased dramatically over the past few decades. Development of new chemotherapeutic agents and the expanded use of older agents have had a major impact on this celebrated improvement. Chemotherapy can have, however, significant toxicity on the nervous system. The most common neurologic complications involve acute alterations in consciousness, leukoencephalopathy, seizures, cerebral infarctions, paralysis, neuropathy, and ototoxicity. Most of the information on toxicity comes from prospective reports and the adult patient population. Methotrexate, cyclosporin, and platinum compounds are the most frequently cited. No prospective studies have been done to evaluate chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity in the pediatric population, and the exact incidence of such complications is unknown. Such investigation is greatly needed, as it may lead to a better understanding of how chemotherapy affects the nervous system and ultimately help develop more strategies to prevent drug-related neurotoxicity in pediatric cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cerebral Infarction / chemically induced
  • Cerebral Infarction / pathology
  • Child
  • Consciousness / drug effects
  • Dementia, Vascular / chemically induced
  • Hearing Disorders / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Nervous System Diseases / psychology
  • Paralysis / chemically induced
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / chemically induced
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents