Premium
Chemotherapy during pregnancy: a review of the literature
Author(s) -
Autio K.,
Rassnick K. M.,
BedfordGuaus S. J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
veterinary and comparative oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1476-5829
pISSN - 1476-5810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2006.00119.x
Subject(s) - pregnancy , chemotherapy , medicine , medline , obstetrics , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , genetics
Although diagnosing cancer during pregnancy is uncommon in veterinary medicine, when it occurs, chemotherapy may represent a reasonable treatment option. A major consideration is that physiological changes associated with pregnancy affect drug pharmacokinetics and complicate correct dosing of chemotherapy agents. Additionally, most antineoplastic drugs are able to cross the placenta thus adversely affecting the foetus. However, favourable outcomes have been observed in human beings when chemotherapy has been administered after organogenesis. Conversely, chemotherapy should be avoided during the early embryonic and organogenesis periods as it might lead to foetal death and/or major malformations.