TITLE:
Anti-Colorectal Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced Diarrhoea: Current Treatments and Side-Effects
AUTHORS:
Rachel M. McQuade, Joel C. Bornstein, Kulmira Nurgali
KEYWORDS:
Oxaliplatin; Irinotecan, 5-Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Chemotherapy, Colorectal Cancer, Chemotherapy-Induced Diarrhoea
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.5 No.7,
April
14,
2014
ABSTRACT: Chemotherapy-induced
diarrhoea (CID) is a common side-effect experienced by patients being treated
with a variety of antineoplastic agents. Approximately 80% of patients undergoing
chemotherapeutic treatment for colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers
present with CID; moreover, about 5% of early deaths associated with
combination anti-cancer chemotherapy are due to CID. Chronic post-treatment
diarrhoea amongst cancer survivors can persist for more than 10 years greatly
effecting long-term quality of life. Gastrointestinal toxicities such as
diarrhoea and vomiting are amongst the primary contributors to dose reductions
and delays throughout anti-cancer treatment, presenting a significant hurdle in
clinical management of anti-cancer regimes and often result in sub-optimum
treatment. However, little is known about pathophysiological mechanisms
underlying CID. This work provides a review of chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea,
current management guidelines, and shortcomings of current treatments as well
as emerging and already existing anti-diarrhoeal treatments potentially
suitable for CID.