Chemotherapy-Related Toxicities and Clinical Management: An Article Review
Author(s):
Maria Julia Frauches Rocha1*, Ian Caldeira Ruppen1, Maria Tayna Gesualdo1, Maria Eduarda Galhardo Carvalho Fernandes1, Priscila
De Oliveira Barros1, André Cesar Leandro1, Emily Eduarda Hellmann1, Amanda Maia Porcinelli1, Larissa da Rosa Piccoli1, Guilherme
Gasparotto1, Tauane Cano Barreto2, Camilla Antunes Zanini3, Geovani Almeida Gois4, Laura Vieira Reis1
and Heloisa Belinati Pereira
Perez1
Chemotherapy-induced toxicities remain one of the greatest obstacles to maintaining the ideal therapeutic intensity in cancer treatment. Despite advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies, most cytotoxic regimens still have a considerable safety burden, resulting in delays, dose reductions, and early discontinuation. The most prevalent adverse effects include myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, peripheral neuropathy, mucositis, diarrhea, cardiotoxicity, and dermatologic manifestations. These events impair quality of life, increase hospitalization risk, and raise healthcare costs, making the development of evidence-based prevention and management strategies imperative. This review describes the principal toxicities associated with traditional chemotherapeutic agents, discussing their underlying pathophysiology, risk factors, and clinical complications. Preventive measures, supportive therapies, and multidisciplinary approaches capable of reducing symptom severity and enabling treatment continuity. such as colony-stimulating factors, next-generation antiemetics, cardioprotective agents, mucosal-care protocols, and telemonitoring programs are presented. Emerging trends, including the use of predictive toxicity biomarkers and real-time digital symptom-assessment tools, are also explored. We conclude that dose individualization, close follow-up, and patient education are fundamental to minimize complications, maintain therapeutic adherence, and optimize oncologic outcomes. Systematic adoption of these practices, allied to technological innovation, represents a promising path to transform oncologic care, ensuring greater safety and well-being for patients at all treatment stages. This review reinforces the central role of the multiprofessional team in the early recognition of toxicity signs, implementation of standardized interventions, and timely adjustment of therapeutic plans, ultimately improving clinical outcomes and lowering treatment-related mortality. Thus, integration among research, clinical care, and technology constitutes a strategic pillar for sustainable advances in modern oncology.
