Perspectives on chemotherapy-induced toxicities in pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Despite breakthroughs in screening, identification, and therapy, pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a serious issue in cancer-related mortality. This comprehensive review investigates the long-term and latent effects of chemotherapy in PC, focusing on commonly used medicines such as gemcitabine, docetaxel, irinotecan, nab-paclitaxel, and others. Gemcitabine, a common PC medication, causes a variety of adverse effects, including myelosuppression and weariness. Combination therapy, such as docetaxel and irinotecan, enhance toxicity, resulting in problems such as neutropenia and gastrointestinal difficulties. Significantly, chemotherapy-related complications, such as thrombosis and cardiac difficulties connected to paclitaxel, present serious concerns. Erlotinib, gefitinib, vatalanib, and sunitinib studies show significant side effects. Despite ongoing challenges, determining the causes of the low objective response rate in gemcitabine-refractory patients remains challenging. The study emphasizes the importance of future advances in cancer etiology, arguing for large, straightforward studies examining combination chemotherapies to improve tolerance and minimize chemotherapy-induced sequelae. This overview serves as a thorough guide for physicians, researchers, and policymakers as they navigate the complex terrain of PC chemotherapy, providing significant insights to improve patient care.