Weefselprotectiva bij oncolytica. Ter bescherming van gezonde cellen

Chemotherapy forms, with radiotherapy and surgery, the cornerstone of the current treatment of cancer. However, toxicity limits the use and the dose of commonly used chemotherapeutic agents. Cytoprotective agents produce site-specific inactivation of cytotoxic agents without compromising activity. In this article a series of (potential) cytoprotective agents are discussed: MESNA, folinic acid, amifostine, dexrazoxane, Org 2766, glutathione, thiosulfate, glutamine, dithiocarb, monoHER, methylthionine and CDK inhibitors. MESNA and folinic acid are widely used in current practice. The use of the other cytoprotective agents in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced toxicity is, however, still limited. Studies demonstrating the efficacy of these agents are lacking and some agents induce undesired side effects.