Cancer chemotherapy and liver

Abstract

The potential hepatotoxicity from cancer chemotherapy may be complex. Liver injury during cancer chemotherapy may not always reflect hepatotoxic anticancer drugs; the clinician must also consider reactions to antibiotics, analgesic, antiemetic other medications. Preexisting medical problems, tumor, immumosuppression, hepatitis viruses and other infections and nutrition deficiencies all may affect a host susceptibility to liver injury. Drugs that commonly produce hepatotoxicity are L-asparaginase, methotrexate, cytrabine, 6-thiopurines and mitramycin. The review discusses the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on the liver.