Side Effects Associated With Chemotherapy of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia with Vincristine and Anthracyclines

Abstract

Background: Acute lymphocytic leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a malignant (clonal) disease of the bone marrow in which early lymphoid precursors proliferate and replace the normal hematopoietic cells of the marrow. It is characterized by the overproduction of immature white blood cells, called lymphoblast or leukemic blasts. Chemotherapy of cancer has many side effects. Use of vincristine and anthracyclines can lead to many side effects. It may limit the efficacy of work in daily life activities of the patient. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the side effects associated with the use of vincristine and anthracyclines. Methodology: This study was conducted with the objective to assess and evaluate the side effects of vincristine and anthracyclines in MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Lakdikapul, Hyderabad. This study is observational in nature and the subjects enrolled under this study were about 64. Informed consent was obtained from all the subjects. Subjects recruited in this study were admitted as in patients in the hospital to receive chemotherapy. The assessment of quality of life is done by using EORTC QLQ- C30 questionnaire. Results: In this study, a total of 64 subjects with cancer were evaluated. Of 64 patients included, about 51.565 belong to age group of 0-14 years, followed by 18% in age group 15-24 years. Indicating the higher incidence of ALL in children’s specifically and the family history of non- specific cancer was found in 3 patients in the study. During the study most common side effects observed were nausea (24), vomiting (22), and shortness of breath (37) and chest pain (30) which ranges from mild to moderate in severity. Conclusion: Among 64 subjects undergoing CT for ALL, out of them ALL was dominantly diagnosed in males (89%). Of 64 patients studied, 57 patients experienced leukocytopenia, 38 experienced neutropenia, 46 experienced thrombocytopenia and anemia in 44 patients. Thus, increased rate of transfusions (45 in males, 5 in females) attributed to decreased quality of life of patients.1 male and 1 female died during the study, due to SOB due to bilirubinemia and non-adherence to the CT.