[Prevention and treatment of the side effects of cancer chemotherapy].

Management of the side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients is important because side effects can affect the tolerability and continuation of therapy, in addition to lowering the quality of life of patients. A significant efficacy of serotonin receptor antagonists against nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor against neutropenia secondary to chemotherapy, has been recently demonstrated. New chemoprotective drugs have been developed, such as amifostine for cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity, and dexrazoxane for cardiac toxicity due to anthracyclines. Antiviral agents including lamivudine and interferons suppress virus replication, preventing the development of fulminant hepatitis during chemotherapy in cancer patients who have chronic hepatitis B infection. Various supportive therapies have resulted in the advance of cancer chemotherapy.