2006 update of recommendations for the use of white blood cell growth factors: an evidence-based clinical practice guideline

Severe Diarrhea in Patients with Advanced- Stage Colorectal Cancer Receiving FOLFOX or FOLFIRI Chemotherapy: The Development of a Risk Prediction Tool

BACKGROUND

FOLFOX (oxaliplatin/leucovorin/5-fluorouracil) and FOLFIRI (irinotecan/leucovorin/5-fluorouracil) are important regimens for the treatment of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). However, both are associated with severe diarrhea, leading to hospitalization, dose reductions/delays, and even death. In this study, the development of a prediction model for severe diarrhea is described.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The records of 200 patients with CRC who had received FOLFOX or FOLFIRI in 3 Canadian cancer centers were reviewed. Clinical and biochemistry parameters potentially associated with diarrhea were abstracted. Logistic regression analysis was applied to develop the final risk model. A risk scoring system, ranging from 0 to 15, was then created from the regression parameters. A receiver operative characteristic curve analysis was done to measure the accuracy of the scoring system.

RESULTS

Important predictors for severe diarrhea included existing comorbidity, patient performance status, an increased baseline bilirubin level, resection of the primary tumor, FOLFOX chemotherapy, metastatic or advanced locoregional versus resected stage IV disease, and the initiation of treatment in the summer months. The receiver operative characteristic analysis had an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.87). An overall risk score of > or = 7 for a given patient was identified as being the optimal cutoff to maximize the sensitivity (61.4%) and specificity (89.6%) of the prediction tool.

CONCLUSION

We developed a prediction tool for severe diarrhea in patients with CRC receiving FOLFOX or FOLFIRI chemotherapy. To make the model available for easy use and access, we have incorporated it on to our risk prediction Web site: www.PredictPatientEvents.com. Prospective external validation is also being planned.

Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide Followed by Docetaxel (AC Followed by D) in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

The increasing complexity of cancer chemotherapy increases the requirement that pharmacists be familiar with these highly toxic agents. This column will review various issues related to preparation, dispensing, and administration of cancer chemotherapy, and review various agents, both commercially available and investigational, used to treat malignant diseases. Questions or suggestions for topics should be addressed to Dominic A. Solimando, Jr., President, Oncology Pharmacy Services, Inc., 4201 Wilson Blvd #110-545, Arlington, VA 22203, E-mail: OncRxSvc@aol.com ; or J. Aubrey Waddell, Associate Professor, University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy; Oncology Pharmacist, Pharmacy Department, Blount Memorial Hospital, 907 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804, E-mail: waddfour@charter.net .

Neutropenia: state of the knowledge part I

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

To review neutrophil physiology, consequences of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN), CIN risk assessment models, national practice guidelines, the impact of febrile neutropenia and infection, and what is known and unknown about CIN.

DATA SOURCES

Extensive review and summary of published neutropenia literature, guidelines, meta-analyses, currently funded National Institutes of Health and Oncology Nursing Society studies, and invited expert panel symposium presentations.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A comprehensive review of current literature regarding CIN risk assessment, practice guidelines, management, impact on dose-dense and dose-intense cancer treatment, complications, costs related to hospitalizations, and treatment strategies has been compiled.

CONCLUSIONS

CIN is the most common dose-limiting toxicity of cancer therapy. Medical practice guidelines and risk assessment models for appropriate use of myeloid growth factors and management of febrile neutropenia have been developed to assess patients for CIN complications prechemotherapy and during CIN episodes. CIN affects patients, families, practitioners, and the healthcare system. Although much is known about this common chemotherapy complication, a great deal remains to be learned.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

CIN is a serious and global problem in patients receiving cancer therapy. Oncology nurses need to critically analyze their own practices when assessing, managing, and educating patients and families about CIN.

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Prophylactic Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor After Autologous and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Purpose

The primary objective of our meta-analysis was to determine whether prophylactic hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) after hematopoietic autologous and allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) reduced documented infections. Our secondary objectives were to determine whether prophylactic CSFs affected other outcomes including parenteral antibiotic therapy duration, infection-related mortality, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), or treatment-related mortality.

Methods

We included studies if there was random assignment between CSFs and placebo/no therapy and CSFs were given after SCT and before recovery of neutrophils. From 3,778 reviewed study articles, 34 were included based on predefined inclusion criteria. All analyses were conducted using a random effects model.

Results

CSFs reduced the risk of documented infections (relative risk [RR] 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.00; P = .05) and duration of parenteral antibiotics (weighted mean difference, −1.39 days, 95% CI, −2.56 to −0.22; P = .02) but did not reduce infection-related mortality (RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.41 to 1.44; P = .4). CSFs did not increase grade 2 to 4 acute GVHD (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.31; P = .8) or treatment-related mortality (RR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.29; P = .98).

Conclusion

CSFs were associated with a small reduction in the risk of documented infections but did not affect infection or treatment-related mortality.

Docetaxel and Cisplatin (DP) Regimen for Solid Tumors

The increasing complexity of cancer chemotherapy increases the requirement that pharmacists be familiar with these highly toxic agents. This column will review various issues related to preparation, dispensing and administration of cancer chemotherapy, and review various agents, both commercially available and investigational, used to treat malignant diseases.

ABVD for Hodgkin's lymphoma: full-dose chemotherapy without dose reductions or growth factors

BACKGROUND

We investigated whether administration of full-dose ABVD (Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) chemotherapy without growth factors, and irrespective of the granulocyte count, caused treatment delays or increased the number of infective episodes, in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-eight patients with confirmed predominantly early-stage HL were treated with ABVD outside clinical trial protocols over a 5-year period on an outpatient basis.

RESULTS

Ninety-five per cent of patients completed their scheduled ABVD regimen without adverse effects despite the development of neutropenia. Anaemia and thrombocytopenia did not present problems. Febrile neutropenia complicated 0.57% of combination chemotherapy injections. No growth factors were used and no dose modifications were carried out apart from the omission of bleomycin in one patient for the last two cycles of treatment due to the development of lung toxicity. All patients are currently disease-free, although three (7.8%) required salvage high-dose therapy (one relapsed and two with refractory disease).

CONCLUSIONS

ABVD administration irrespective of granulocyte counts allowed the treatment to be given at full dose without delays or significant number of infective episodes. There was no need for growth factor support, minimising treatment costs. The use of full-dose ABVD irrespective of granulocyte count should be evaluated in future protocols for HL.

Recent Publications on Medications and Pharmacy

Hospital Pharmacy presents this new feature to keep pharmacists abreast of new publications in the medical/pharmacy literature. Articles of interest will be abstracted monthly regarding a broad scope of topics.

Neutropenia: Etiology and Pathogenesis

Neutropenia is defined as an absolute neutrophil count <1500 cells/mm(3) and can be graded as mild (1000-1500 cells/mm(3)), moderate (500-1000 cells/mm(3)), or severe (<500 cells/mm(3)). Neutropenia can develop as a result of > or =1 pathologic mechanism, including decreased bone marrow production, the sequestering of neutrophils, and increased destruction of neutrophils in the peripheral blood. The clinical result is increased risk for infection. This risk is directly proportional to the severity and duration of neutropenia. Neutropenia is classified according to the etiology as congenital or acquired, with the latter further defined according to the etiology or pathology. Febrile neutropenia is associated with substantial morbidity and even mortality.

An analysis of current neutropenia therapies, including pegfilgrastim

Currently, 2 granulocyte colony-stimulating factors are available in the United States--filgrastim and pegfilgrastim. In patients receiving chemotherapy for solid tumors, lymphoma, and acute myelogenous leukemia, these agents reduce the duration of severe neutropenia, decrease the incidence of febrile neutropenia, and facilitate on-time delivery of scheduled doses of chemotherapy. In addition, substantial data document the benefits of using these agents in patients undergoing peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization and in patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantation or peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation. Recent studies suggest that for all of these indications, the efficacy of pegfilgrastim, the newest agent, is comparable to or greater than that of filgrastim. Like filgrastim, pegfilgrastim is generally well tolerated. An important advantage of pegfilgrastim, however, is its once-per-cycle schedule of administration. Patients and health care providers are likely to prefer the administration schedule of pegfilgrastim to the daily administration schedule required with the use of filgrastim. Furthermore, the more convenient schedule of pegfilgrastim may be associated with greater treatment adherence and increased patient quality of life.