ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS TO CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY IN A REGIONAL CANCER CENTER IN NORTHEAST INDIA

Background: With the dramatic advances in the medical science, treatment of many cancers is not just palliative, but rather curative in today’s world. The dosage regimen and the method of administration can greatly affect their efficacy and toxicity.

Aims and Objects: To study the patterns of adverse drug reaction to cancer chemotherapy and to assess the causality, severity and predictability of those adverse reactions.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Radiotherapy for a period of 6 months. It is a prospective study and included all in-patients & outpatients with adverse effects during the study period. The data was collected using ADR (adverse drug reaction) form designed by CDSCO (Centre for Drug Standard Control Organization) and statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.

Results: A total of 224 adverse reactions were noted in 178 patients with M:F ratio of 1:1.5. 54.5 % of the reactions were observed in age group of 40-60 years. The most common single drug causing reaction is cisplatin and regimen is CHOP regimen. Anemia is the most commonly seen side effect. Most of the reactions were probable in causality, moderate in severity and unpredictable in nature.

Conclusion: Chemotherapeutic drugs have a narrow therapeutic index and the dosage needed to achieve a therapeutic response usually proves toxic to the body’s rapidly proliferating cells. Hence by early detection of the reaction and by prophylactic management, treatment can be made effective.