What is the action of vincristine?

The mechanism of action of vincristine sulfate has been related to the inhibition of microtubule formation in mitotic spindle, resulting in an arrest of dividing cells at the metaphase stage. Central nervous system leukemia has been reported in patients undergoing otherwise successful therapy with vincristine sulfate.

What kind of cancer does vincristine treat?

Vincristine is cancer medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their spread in the body. Vincristine is used to treat leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (soft tissue tumors), neuroblastoma (cancer that forms in nerve tissue), and Wilms’ tumor.

What is the indication of vincristine?

The FDA-approved indications of vincristine are acute lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia, and Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Is vincristine still used?

“It’s now used in many of our pediatric cancer treatment regimens, from our most common type of cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to lymphomas, including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma,” he said. “It’s also used for many solid tumors, including brain tumors, Wilms tumors and neuroblastoma.

Is vincristine a strong chemo medicine?

Drug Type:

Vincristine is an anti-cancer (“antineoplastic” or “cytotoxic”) chemotherapy medicine. Vincristine is classified as a plant alkaloid.

What is vincristine neuropathy?

Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is characterized primarily by numbness, tingling, and a painful sensation felt in the hands and feet, muscle weakness, and constipation due to its effect on the sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves3,4,5.

How does vincristine increase platelets?

Vincristine is a vinca alkaloid that results in an increase in circulating platelet count through several hypothesized mechanisms including stimulation of thrombopoiesis, acceleration of fragmentation of megakaryocytes, impairment of the phagocytosis of platelets by macrophages, and interference with antiplatelet …

Can you kiss a chemo patient?

Use kissing, touching, caressing to satisfy each other. Because saliva can contain chemotherapy for 48-72 hours after treatment, you should avoid open-mouth kissing during this time as this can expose your partner to the chemotherapy. Keep communication open.

Is vincristine a neurotoxic?

Vincristine is an antineoplastic medicine with a broad spectrum of activity against haematological malignancies and childhood sarcomas. Besides useful activity, it lacks the usual emetic and myelotoxicity of anticancer drugs, but its use is limited by neurotoxicity.

What is coasting phenomenon?

‘Coasting’ is the term used to describe this phenomenon in which there is progression of sensory loss even after cessation of chemotherapy and the symptoms can present as late as 3–6 months.

How is vincristine induced neuropathy treated?

Vincristine is widely used as anticancer therapy for a variety of hematological malignancies. The treatment is limited by progressive vincristine-induced neuropathy, possibly including both peripheral sensory and motor nerves, autonomic nervous functions, and the central nervous system.

Why is vincristine neurotoxic?

It is thought that vincristine may cause axonal damage (and peripheral neuropathy) by the disruption of neurotubules and conse- quent impairment of axoplasmic transport mechanisms (21,22).

Is vincristine neuropathy reversible?

Vincristine neuropathy is usually reversible when therapy is discontinued. The median duration of paresthesias and motor weakness after treatment discontinuation is 3 months. Cramps in small hand but in particular small foot muscles occur.

How does cisplatin cause peripheral neuropathy?

Several mechanisms contributing to cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity have been suggested (Figure ​2), including the loss of peripheral sensory neurons, changes in cell signaling cascades, changes to calcium homeostasis and signaling, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and induction of apoptosis as a result of …

Why do taxanes cause neuropathy?

The mechanisms of CIPN induced by taxanes: Taxanes cause microtubule disruption, which impairs axonal transport and leads to Wallerian degeneration, altered activity of ion channels and hyperexcitability of peripheral neurons.