Vincristine (also called Oncovin or VCR) is a chemotherapy agent used in the treatment of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's Lymphoma / Disease. It is more often than not given in conjunction with other chemotherapy agents in a multidrug regimen. An antineoplastic, vincristine interferes with the growth of cancer cells - it does this by inhibiting microtubule production on cells. It is in the vinca alkaloid family of drugs which includes vinblastine, a very different drug, sometimes used to treat Hodgkin's Disease. Both vinblastine and vincristine are used in the Stanford V regimen whereas vincristine alone is used in CHOP. Originally derived from the Madagascar periwinkle plant Catharanthus roseus.

Before taking this medicine: Inform the doctor if you have had kidney, liver, or lung disease. It should not be taken while pregnant and not while breast feeding without your doctors' advice.

While taking this medicine: It is important to keep in close contact with the doctor who will monitor dosage and effects. If you have surgery or emergency treatment, tell the doctor/dentist you are taking or have taken this medication.

Short Term Side Effects: Common: nausea and vomiting (ask your doctor about drugs to counteract nausea), fever/chills after dose, cough, shortness of breath, mouth sores, itching, rash, loss of appetite, constipation; Less Common: confusion, faintness, wheezing, peripheral neuropathy (tingling & numbness in the hands and feet); Rare: sudden/severe chest pain, sudden weakness in arms/legs

Long Term Side Effects: hair loss (alopecia) during use - hair growth should return after treatment and lung (pulmonary) toxicity (doses should be monitored), peripheral neuropathy (tingling & numbness in the hands and feet).

Some of the Regimens using Vincristine:

• MOPP (Hodgkin's Disease - the letter "O" for Oncovin)
• Stanford V (Hodgkin's Disease - no letters used)
• CHOP (Non-Hodgkin's - the letter "O")

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Resources

Information on vincristine from Healthtouch (US)
Information sheet from CanCareSA (Australia)
Information sheet from Cancerbackup (UK)
Information from Project Access (HIV) (US)
Vincristine-induced fever in children with leukemia and lymphoma - from Cancer, Feb 15 1988
The Pharmacology of Vinblastine, Vincristine, Vindesine, and Vinorelbine from Cyberbotanica by Lucy A. Snyder
Description and Natural History of the Periwinkle from Cyberbotanica
Information on Alkaloids and microtubule inhibitors from UNMC

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For more information on Hodgkin's Lymphoma, please see the following pages:

Adult Hodgkin's Disease: Chemotherapy
Adult Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Adult Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Introduction

Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Chemotherapy
Childhood Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Childhood Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Introduction

For more information on Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, please see the following pages:

Adult Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma: Chemotherapy
Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Introduction

Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Chemotherapy
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Information Pages