Commentary: Oncologic drugs in patients with organ dysfunction: a summary

An evaluation of hepatotoxicity in breast cancer patients receiving injection Doxorubicin

BACKGROUND

Hepatic dysfunction in the cancer unit has a significant impact on patient outcomes. The therapeutic application of anthracycline antibiotics are limited by side-effects mainly myelosuppression, chronic cardiotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity.

AIM

To assess the risk of Hepatotoxicity in breast cancer patients receiving Inj. Doxorubicin.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The investigation was a prospective study that was conducted in cancer patients receiving Inj. Doxorubicin doses of 50 mg/m(2), and 75 mg/m(2) at a South Indian tertiary care hospital. Sample collection was carried out from pre-chemotherapy to 4(th) cycle. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), direct bilirubin and total bilirubin were assessed to determine hepatotoxicity. Data were analyzed using unpaired t-test, Pearson correlation using Graph-Pad Prism version 5.00 for Windows, Graph-Pad Software, San Diego, California, USA, www.graphpad.com.

RESULTS

Breast cancer patients comprised 37% (49/132) of the total female cancer patient population, of which 46 patients with a mean age of 46.6 (13.4) years were included and 30.4% (14/46) patients were developed hepatotoxicity. The mean standard deviation of SGOT, SGPT, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin in the pre-chemotherapy cycle to fourth chemotherapy cycle were found to be 21.97 (5.798) U/L and 181.3 (103.6) U/L, 23.17 (6.237) U/L and 147.6 (90.9) U/L, 0.1351 (0.1186) mg/dL and 0.5445 (0.4587) mg/dL, 0.3094 (1.346) mg/dL and 2.7163 (1.898) mg/dL simultaneously where P < 0.05 which were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

There exist a strong correlation between the use of Inj. Doxorubicin and risk for developing hepatotoxicity. The health-care professionals dealing with breast cancer patients need to have awareness for hepatotoxicity with the use of Inj. Doxorubicin therapy.

Suppression of hepatic tumor growth and metastasis by metronomic therapy in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma

Although continuous low-dose (metronomic [MET]) therapy exerts anti-cancer efficacy in various cancer models, the effect of long-term MET therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. This study assessed the long-term efficacy of MET on suppression of tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis in a rat model of HCC induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine for 16 wk. The rats were divided into 3 groups: MTD group received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 40 mg/kg cyclophosphamide on days 1, 3, and 5 of a 21-day cycle; Control and MET groups received i.p. injections of saline and 20 mg/kg cyclophosphamide twice a week, respectively. Anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects and anti-metastatic mechanisms including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) were evaluated. Twelve wk of MET therapy resulted in a significant reduction in intrahepatic tumors than control or MTD therapy. The MET group had fewer proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and decreased hypoxia-inducible factor-1α levels and microvessel density. Lung metastases were detected in 100%, 80%, and 42.9% in the control, MTD, and MET groups, respectively. MET therapy significantly decreased expression of TIMP-1, MMP-2 and -9. For mediators of pro-MMP-2 activation, MET therapy induced significant suppression in the TIMP-2 and MMP-14 level. The survival in the MET group was significantly prolonged compared to the control and MTD groups. Long-term MET scheduling suppresses tumor growth and metastasis via its potent anti-angiogenic properties and a decrease in MMPs and TIMPs activities. These results provide a rationale for long-term MET dosing in future clinical trials of HCC treatment.

Management of hematological malignancies in patients affected by renal failure

The management of hematological malignancies (HM) in renally impaired patients may be a difficult task. Indeed, the kidney represents a major elimination pathway for many chemotherapeutic agents and their metabolites, whose serum levels are not usually measured in daily clinical practice. In addition, many antineoplastic drugs have a narrow therapeutic index for which they require dose adjustment when administered to patients with renal failure. Only limited data regarding the use of chemotherapy in patients with renal impairment and in those on dialysis are available. Indeed, renal patients with HM are often excluded from most clinical trials. Thus far, in order to provide recommendations, we have reviewed the pertinent literature, gathering information from published guidelines regarding chemotherapy in patients with kidney dysfunction and from articles describing the use of individual agents in renal patients with HM.

Dosing modifications of targeted cancer therapies in patients with special needs: evidence and controversies

Targeted therapies have revolutionized the treatment of malignancies over the past decade. These agents are generally regarded to posses fewer systemic side effects than traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies. However, patients manifesting organ dysfunction or drug interactions with concurrent medications may require dosing modifications of their targeted therapies in order to reduce the risk of systemic toxicities or reduction of drug efficacies. Studies have shown that wide variations and controversies exist with regard to dosing modifications of drugs, due to the lack of well conducted studies and consensus. Hence, this review was conducted to review the literature on the dosing modification strategies, for 30 commercially available targeted cancer drugs, and to evaluate the current mainstay recommendations and controversies.

nab-Paclitaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors and hepatic dysfunction: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

This pilot open-label clinical study evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) in patients with advanced solid tumors and hepatic dysfunction.

RESEARCH DESIGN/METHODS

Dosing was determined according to baseline bilirubin levels as described in the package insert for Taxol((R)) (paclitaxel), and patients received 130, 200 or 260 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel every 3 weeks.

RESULTS

Thirty patients with elevated baseline bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase levels received nab-paclitaxel. The most commonly-occurring grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia and fatigue. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 10, 30 and 30% of patients receiving 130, 200 and 260 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel, respectively. Grade 3 fatigue presented in 50 and 30% patients receiving 130 and 200 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel, respectively (no grade 4 event). Only one (10%) patient had a grade 3 sensory neuropathy in the 260 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel arm. Treatment-related grade 3 bilirubinemia and elevated aspartate aminotransferase was observed in patients receiving 130 mg/m(2) (30 and 10%, respectively) and 260 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel (20 and 10%, respectively). One patient had a grade 4 bilirubinemia in the 200 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel arm. Total bilirubin levels were inversely correlated to paclitaxel clearance (p < 0001).

CONCLUSIONS

nab-Paclitaxel has an acceptable tolerability profile in patients with solid tumors and hepatic dysfunction. The safety and pharmacokinetic results support the same dose modification scheme recommended for cremophor-based paclitaxel.

Jaundice as a presenting manifestation of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma: etiology, management, and outcome

OBJECTIVES

There are few data available on the management and outcome of pediatric patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) presenting with jaundice. Controversies exist on biliary drainage and chemotherapy dose modifications to be carried out in such patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the causes of jaundice in, the various modalities of treatment administered to, and outcome of patients aged 18 years or less, with de novo NHL and jaundice treated at our center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis show 9 such cases (11.2% of all NHL cases), all of whom were treated by a uniform protocol. Chemotherapy dose modifications were based on serum bilirubin and clinical status of the patients.

RESULTS

Obstructive jaundice was the most common cause (7 of 9). Seven patients achieved normal serum bilirubin with chemotherapy alone. Only one had a biliary drainage procedure. Four patients were alive and disease-free at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Although biliary obstruction is the commonest most cause of jaundice in pediatric and adolescent NHL, biliary drainage may be unnecessary and chemotherapy alone may suffice as initial treatment for these patients.

Toxicities of gemcitabine in patients with severe hepatic dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between doses of gemcitabine and absolute neutrophil count and thrombocytopenia in patients with severe hepatic dysfunction (total bilirubin > or =4.5 mg/dL), and the relationship between doses of gemcitabine in patients with severe hepatic dysfunction and nonhematologic toxicity.

CASE SUMMARY

A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients receiving gemcitabine at the Medical University of South Carolina from October 2006 through October 2008. Seven patients were identified who had an elevated total bilirubin level (> or =4.5 mg/dL) at the time they were receiving gemcitabine. All 7 patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) throughout their treatment, regardless of liver function. Six patients did not experience significant hematologic toxicity warranting a dose reduction or a dose being held. One patient developed thrombocytopenia, warranting a dose being held.

DISCUSSION

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy agent frequently used for the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as metastatic breast, lung, and ovarian cancer. To date there is limited information on dosing of gemcitabine in patients with an elevated total bilirubin. A previous study looking at lower grades of liver dysfunction suggested empiric dose reductions be made in these patients because of increased incidence of toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate the possibility that no initial dose reduction is necessary for patients with liver dysfunction receiving gemcitabine; however, close monitoring of these patients is required.

Use of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin for the Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Cancer: A Review of the Literature

Objective:

To evaluate the literature on use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer for the first 3–6 months of anticoagulant therapy.

Data Sources:

A preliminary literature search of PubMed (1966–May 2009) was performed, using the MeSH database when possible, with the terms venous thromboembolism, venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, neoplasm, vitamin K antagonist, and low-molecular-weight heparin. Bibliographies of all articles retrieved were also reviewed.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

All studies published in English with data describing the safety and/or efficacy of LMWH in subjects with cancer for the first 3–6 months of anticoagulant therapy for VTE were included.

Data Synthesis:

Five studies that met the above criteria were identified. When compared with vitamin K antagonists, LMWH therapy decreased recurrent VTE in subjects with cancer. Many of these studies had important limitations, including open-label design, relatively short duration, ineffective LMWH dosing, and small sample size.

Conclusions:

The studies analyzed support the American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines' recommendation for the use of LMWH for the first 3–6 months of anticoagulant therapy for VTE in patients with cancer. Specifically, in clinical trials, tinzaparin and dalteparin have demonstrated increased efficacy compared with vitamin K antagonists.

ACPE Universal Program Number:

407-000-09-055-H01-P (Pharmacists)