A chemo-protective agent is any drug that helps to reduce the side- effects of

chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated chemo, sometimes CTX and CTx) is the type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (list of chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) in a standard chemotherapy re ...

. These agents protect specific body parts from harmful anti-cancer treatments that could potentially cause permanent damage to important bodily tissues. Chemo-protective agents have only recently been introduced as a factor involved with chemotherapy with the intent to assist those cancer patients that require treatment, which as an result, improves the patients' quality of life.

Examples include: *

Amifostine Amifostine (ethiofos) is a cytoprotective adjuvant used in cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy involving DNA-binding chemotherapeutic agents. It is marketed by Clinigen Group under the trade name Ethyol. Indications Amifostine is used therapeut ...

, approved by the FDA in 1995, which helps prevent kidney damage in patients undergoing

cisplatin Cisplatin is a chemical compound with chemical formula, formula ''cis''-. It is a coordination complex of platinum that is used as a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of cancers. These include testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, c ...

and

carboplatin Carboplatin, sold under the brand name Paraplatin among others, is a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of forms of cancer. This includes ovarian cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, brain cancer, and neuroblastoma. It is a ...

chemotherapy *

Mesna Mesna, sold under the brand name Mesnex among others, is a medication used in those taking cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide to decrease the risk of hemorrhagic cystitis, bleeding from the bladder. It is used either Oral administration, by mouth or ...

, approved by the FDA in 1988, which helps prevent

hemorrhagic cystitis Hemorrhagic cystitis or haemorrhagic cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder defined by lower urinary tract symptoms that include dysuria, hematuria, and hemorrhage. The disease can occur as a complication of cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide and rad ...

(bladder bleeding) in patients undergoing

cyclophosphamide Cyclophosphamide (CP), also known as cytophosphane among other names, is a medication used as chemotherapy and to suppress the immune system. As chemotherapy it is used to treat lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, ovarian cancer, breast cancer ...

ifosfamide Ifosfamide, sold under the brand name Ifex among others, is a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of types of cancer. This includes testicular cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, bladder cancer, small cell lung cancer, c ...

chemotherapy *

Dexrazoxane Dexrazoxane hydrochloride, sold under the brand name Zinecard among others, is a cardioprotective agent. It was discovered in 1972. The IV administration of dexrazoxane is in acidic condition with HCl adjusting the pH. Medical uses Dexrazoxane ...

, approved by the FDA in 1995, which helps prevent heart problems in patients undergoing

doxorubicin Doxorubicin, sold under the brand name Adriamycin among others, is a chemotherapy medication used to treat cancer. This includes breast cancer, bladder cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, lymphoma, and acute lymphocytic leukemia. It is often used toge ...

chemotherapy

Risks

Chemo-protective agents are common drugs and like many other drugs, may have side effects of their own. Each agent has different side effects though the most common consist of dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, fever, etc. It is important to discuss the side effects of these drugs with a doctor before using them to combat any type of chemotherapy to insure the drug will benefit each and every patient.

References

External links

Chemoprotective
entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms Antineoplastic drugs {{oncology-stub