Fatigue and its management in cancer patients undergoing VEGFR-TKI therapy
Shunji Takahashi
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment and is often called cancer fatigue or cancer-related fatigue. For cancer patients, cancer-related fatigue has a negative impact on participation in work and social activities, mood, and daily activities, significantly impairing quality of life. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs) sometimes cause fatigue, and early detection and appropriate management of fatigue in cancer patients treated with a VEGFR-TKI prevent fatigue from becoming more severe, thus maximizing the benefits of the treatment. AREAS COVERED: This paper focuses on fatigue and discusses its frequency, assessment, risk factors, and management methods. EXPERT OPINION: The drugs currently available for treating cancer-related fatigue are not effective enough, and their mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Some agents have demonstrated efficacy as treatments for fatigue due to pharmacotherapy, and further elucidation of their mechanisms is expected, together with the development of new drugs. Since fatigue has a range of causes, its treatment requires not only medication, but also exercise, nutrition, and other therapeutic approaches. The successful treatment of fatigue will therefore need multidisciplinary therapy involving the establishment of systems of cooperation across various specialties.