Aspects related to oxidative stress-mediated toxicity of doxorubicin during chemotherapy treatment

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the main toxic effects mediated by oxidative stress associated with treatment with doxorubicin in scientific research articles available in the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study employed a descriptive review methodology applied to the literature. For the theoretical scientific background, we used the electronic PubMed search engines. CONCLUSION: The toxicity of chemotherapy treatment with doxorubicin causes damage in various organs of patients who are in uninterrupted treatment with this antineoplastic agent. Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity has been investigated to a great degree and is especially indicated as the principal side effect. Therefore, care needs to be given to other damage caused by this medication as important as myocardial toxicity, such as renal, pulmonary and liver toxicity, among others. There is a need for further studies to prevent or even encounter a way to control the damage caused by these toxicities in various tissues.