ADVERSE EVENTS INDUCED BY CHEMICAL ANTICANCER DRUGS

S.BENNIS, H. BECHAR, My H. KARIMI, W. CHAOUKI, A. SBAI, B.MEDDAH

National Institute of Oncology, Ibn Sina Hospital University Center, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rabat, Morocco.

Abstract

Introduction: The chemotherapy based on the use of chemical cytotoxics occupies an

important position in the range of cancer therapy. However, its use is systematically
accompanied by a great number of side effects. The aim of our study is to report the impact,
the characteristics and the grades of the differents side effects observed in the patients of the
National Institute of Oncology of Rabat.

Patients and Methods: This is a prospective descriptive study conducted at the National
Institute of Oncology in Rabat between February and June 2014. Data were collected using a
national formulary of pharmacovigilance of National Center of Pharmacovigilance in
Morocco and additional questionnaire has been prepared to check different types of toxicity
has been set up to signal all anomalies that could surge up during the process of chemotherapy
treatment.

Results: The totality of patients having participated in our study have shown signs of nausea
and vomiting between the first and the third day of treatment, appearance of mucositis (grade
I) in 33% of patients, a chronic constipation has been signaled by 15% of patients.
A face edema accompanied by respiratory gene has appeared in the patients having
monotherapy Docetaxel as a protocol, that is 40%.
A febrile neutropenia of grade III has been detected in 11% of patients, besides 30% who
declared having anemia during treatment.
A vesical toxicity manifested by a severe cystitis has been observed in 7% of patients.
Conclusion:

The expertise and the mastership of the diversity and the severity of the side effects linked to
traditional chemotherapy are the only means to reduce and prevent the appearance of these
anomalies during chemotherapy treatment.