Assessment of Adverse Drug Reactions Among Cancer Patients in A Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) remain a major challenge in cancer therapy due to the narrow therapeutic index of anticancer drugs, polypharmacy, and patient-related factors. This review consolidates clinical data on ADRs reported in cancer patients receiving anticancer and supportive pharmacotherapy in a tertiary care setting. Demographic characteristics, cancer types, drugs implicated, patterns of ADRs, affected organ systems, routes of administration, management strategies, and outcomes were critically analyzed along with causality, severity, and preventability assessments using standard pharmacovigilance scales. The review indicates a higher incidence of ADRs among pediatric and adolescent patients, with males being more frequently affected. Hematological malignancies constituted the majority of cases. Gastrointestinal and whole-body reactions were the most commonly reported ADRs, with vomiting being the predominant manifestation. The intravenous route of administration was most frequently associated with ADR occurrence. Causality assessment classified most reactions as probable or possible, while severity assessment revealed that the majority of ADRs were mild, with very few severe cases. Preventability analysis showed that a significant proportion of ADRs were either definitely or probably preventable. Most patients recovered completely or continued therapy with appropriate management, highlighting favorable clinical outcomes.This review emphasizes the considerable burden of ADRs in oncology practice and underscores the importance of continuous pharmacovigilance, early detection, and multidisciplinary intervention. Strengthening ADR monitoring and reporting systems can significantly enhance patient safety, reduce preventable reactions, and improve therapeutic outcomes in cancer care.