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Soldi LR, Silva MJB. Fluconazole and levofloxacin prophylaxis are ineffective strategies for preventing infections in acute myeloid leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy. Cancer Epidemiol 2024; 91:102593. [PMID: 38815484 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2024.102593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute myeloid leukemia patients are at high risk for infections, which contribute to increased mortality rates of up to 70%. The use of antimicrobial prophylaxis has been shown to significantly lower rates of infection. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effect of two agents that showed effective results in the literature, levofloxacin and fluconazole, as prophylaxis strategies in AML patients. METHODOLOGY A total of 85 AML patients' medical records treated with a 7+3 induction chemotherapy protocol in the Cancer Hospital of Uberlândia from 2017 to 2021 were screened and their data was collected. Within these patients, groups for analysis were created based on whether the acting physician included an antibacterial or antifungal prophylaxis protocol during induction. Contingency tables with χ² and odds ratio tests were realized to verify associations between prophylaxis and infection. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier curves with Cox regression were developed to analyze survival. RESULTS The use of prophylaxis with either fluconazole or levofloxacin did not lower rates of infection, as those who with prophylaxis did not demonstrate significant differences when compared to those without (20.3-29.7%, and 12.3-23.3%, respectively). Patients who suffered a bacterial infection during induction were shown to have lower overall survival, with a similar trend seen in fungal infections. CONCLUSION Bacterial and fungal infections were associated with higher rates of induction mortality and lower overall survival, and prophylaxis using fluconazole and levofloxacin did not present any significant difference in preventing these infections in this study, contrasting results found in the literature. The individuality of each treatment center should be taken into consideration and future studies should be realized to better determine the most effective methods and agents for prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Ricardo Soldi
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Tumour Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo José Barbosa Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Tumour Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
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Singh N, Thursky K, Maron G, Wolf J. Fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in patients with neutropenia at high risk of serious infections: Exploring pros and cons. Transpl Infect Dis 2023; 25 Suppl 1:e14152. [PMID: 37746769 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of fluoroquinolones to prevent infections in neutropenic patients with cancer or undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a controversial issue, with international guidelines providing conflicting recommendations. Although potential benefits are clear, concerns revolve around efficacy, potential harms, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) implications. DISCUSSION Fluoroquinolone prophylaxis reduces neutropenic fever (NF) bloodstream infections and other serious bacterial infections, based on evidence from systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and observational studies in adults and children. Fluoroquinolone prophylaxis may also reduce infection-related morbidity and healthcare costs; however, evidence is conflicting. Adverse effects of fluoroquinolones are well recognized in the general population; however, studies in the cancer cohort where it is used for a defined period of neutropenia have not reflected this. The largest concern for routine use of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis remains AMR, as many, but not all, observational studies have found that fluoroquinolone prophylaxis might increase the risk of AMR, and some studies have suggested negative impacts on patient outcomes as a result. CONCLUSIONS The debate surrounding fluoroquinolone prophylaxis calls for individualized risk assessment based on patient characteristics and local AMR patterns, and prophylaxis should be restricted to patients at the highest risk of serious infection during the highest risk periods to ensure that the risk-benefit analysis is in favor of individual and community benefit. More research is needed to address important unanswered questions about fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in neutropenic patients with cancer or receiving HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Singh
- National Centre for Infections in Cancer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Pharmacy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Karin Thursky
- National Centre for Infections in Cancer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gabriela Maron
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Joshua Wolf
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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Dufrayer MC, Monteiro YMC, Carlesse FADMC, Motta F, Daudt LE, Michalowski MB. Antibiotic prophylaxis in acute childhood leukemia: What is known so far? Hematol Transfus Cell Ther 2023; 45:473-482. [PMID: 36522273 PMCID: PMC10627853 DOI: 10.1016/j.htct.2022.09.1279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has evolved in recent decades, reaching an overall survival rate close to 90%. Currently, approximately 4% of patients with ALL die from secondary complications of chemotherapy. Among these complications, the most frequent is febrile neutropenia (FN). The treatment of acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) is even more aggressive, being consequently related to a considerable amount of treatment-related toxicity with a high risk of severe infection and death. METHOD In order to reduce the infection-related risks in these groups of patients, systemic antibacterial prophylaxis has emerged as a possible approach. RESULTS Antibiotic prophylaxis during neutropenia periods in those undergoing chemotherapy have .already been proven in adults with acute leukemias (ALs). Among the possible available therapeutic options for bacterial prophylaxis in children with cancer, fluoroquinolones emerged with the most amount of evidence. Within this class, levofloxacin became the best choice. CONCLUSION Therefore, the use of levofloxacin seems to be indicated in very specific situations: in children who are known to be neutropenic for a long time, secondary to intensive chemotherapy; in children with AL undergoing chemotherapy to induce remission; or in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This article aims to describe recent evidence focusing on antibiotic prophylaxis in children with ALs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Cesar Dufrayer
- Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio, Av. Independência, 155, São João, CEP: 90240-510, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Fabrizio Motta
- Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio, Av. Independência, 155, São João, CEP: 90240-510, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Liane Esteves Daudt
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariana Bohns Michalowski
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Shbaklo N, Vicentini C, Busca A, Giaccone L, Dellacasa C, Dogliotti I, Lupia T, Zotti CM, Corcione S, De Rosa FG. Cost-Effectiveness of Targeted Prophylaxis among Allogenic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030466. [PMID: 36986564 PMCID: PMC10053123 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bloodstream infections (BSI) are life-threatening complications for onco-hematologic patients. Fluoroquinolones prophylaxis (FQP) was recommended for patients with neutropenia. Later, it was correlated with increased resistance rates among this population and its role became debated. While the role of FQ prophylaxis is still being studied, its cost-effectiveness is also unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the costs and effects associated with two alternative strategies (FQP vs. no prophylaxis) for patients with hematological malignancies undergoing allogenic stem cell transplant (HSCT). A decision-tree model was built integrating retrospectively collected data from a single transplant center, part of a tertiary teaching hospital in Northern Italy. Probabilities, costs and effects were considered in the assessment of the two alternative strategies. Probabilities of colonization, BSIs, extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) BSIs and mortality associated with infection, as well as median duration of length of stay (LOS) were calculated based on data collected between 2013 and 2021. The center applied the strategy of FQP between 2013 and 2016, and of no prophylaxis between 2016 and 2021. Data on 326 patients were collected during the considered time period. Overall, the rates of colonization, BSI, KPC/ESBL BSI, and mortality were 6.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7-13.5), 42% (9.9-81.4) and 20.72 (16.67-25.26), respectively. A mean bed-day cost of 132€ was estimated. Considering no prophylaxis vs. prophylaxis, the difference in costs ranged between additional 33.61 and 80.59€ per patient, whereas the difference in effects ranged between 0.11 and 0.03 life-years (LYs) lost (around 40 and 11 days). Given the small differences in terms of costs and effects between the two strategies, no prophylaxis seems an appropriate choice. Furthermore, this analysis did not consider the broader effect on hospital ecology of multiple doses of FQP, which could provide further support for the strategy of no prophylaxis. Our results suggest that the necessity for FQP in onco-hematologic setting should be determined based on local antibiotic resistance patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour Shbaklo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Costanza Vicentini
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Busca
- Stem Cell Transplant Center, AOU Citta' Della Salute E Della Scienza, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Luisa Giaccone
- Stem Cell Transplant Center, AOU Citta' Della Salute E Della Scienza, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Dellacasa
- Stem Cell Transplant Center, AOU Citta' Della Salute E Della Scienza, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Irene Dogliotti
- Stem Cell Transplant Center, AOU Citta' Della Salute E Della Scienza, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Tommaso Lupia
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Cardinal Massaia, 14100 Asti, Italy
| | - Carla M Zotti
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Corcione
- Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
- School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa
- Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Cardinal Massaia, 14100 Asti, Italy
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Caro J, Madero-Marroquin R, Zubizarreta N, Moshier E, Tremblay D, Coltoff A, Lancman G, Fuller R, Rana M, Mascarenhas J, Jacobs SE. Impact of Fluoroquinolone Prophylaxis on Neutropenic Fever, Infections, and Antimicrobial Resistance in Newly Diagnosed AML Patients. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2022; 22:903-911. [PMID: 36109322 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fluoroquinolone prophylaxis is recommended during induction chemotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to reduce risk of neutropenic fever and systemic bacterial infections. We evaluated the effectiveness of primary fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in an area with high fluoroquinolone resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of newly diagnosed adult AML patients who received frontline therapy at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY, between 2012 and 2019. Primary outcome was development of neutropenic fever. Secondary outcomes were development of systemic bacterial infections and infections with multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridioides difficile. Infectious outcomes were collected through 6 months after therapy initiation. We estimated the effect of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis with a time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS Of 121 included patients, 87 received antibiotic prophylaxis and 34 did not. There was no difference in baseline characteristics, although the prophylaxis group had longer neutropenia duration (median 30 vs. 23 days, P = .013). The prophylaxis group had a reduced risk of neutropenic fever (hazard ratio 0.59, P = .039). The prophylaxis group had fewer gram-positive (P = .043) and gram-negative (P = .049) bloodstream infections and fewer clinically documented infections during frontline therapy (P = .005) and follow-up (P = .026). There was no difference in incidence of C. difficile or infection with fluoroquinolone-resistant or multidrug-resistant organisms. There was no mortality difference between groups. CONCLUSION In an area with high fluoroquinolone resistance, primary fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in newly diagnosed AML patients reduced the risk of neutropenic fever and systemic bacterial infections without increased antimicrobial resistance. Prospective, randomized studies are needed to confirm these observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Caro
- Monter Cancer Center, Northwell Health, Lake Success, NY.
| | - Rafael Madero-Marroquin
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West, New York, NY
| | - Nicole Zubizarreta
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Erin Moshier
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Douglas Tremblay
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Alex Coltoff
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Guido Lancman
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Risa Fuller
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Meenakshi Rana
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - John Mascarenhas
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Samantha E Jacobs
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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Linder LA, Gerdy C, Jo Y, Stark C, Wilson A. Changes in Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Rates Following Implementation of Levofloxacin Prophylaxis for Children and Adolescents With High-Risk Leukemia. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY NURSING 2022; 40:69-81. [PMID: 36358024 DOI: 10.1177/27527530221122683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: Despite initiatives to reduce central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), children and adolescents with hematologic malignancies, as well as those with relapsed disease, remain at the greatest risk for infection. This single-institution project evaluated changes in CLABSI rates following implementation of antibacterial prophylaxis with levofloxacin for patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies. Methods: Positive blood culture events meeting National Health Safety Network surveillance criteria to be classified as CLABSIs from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2019, were included. Data were organized into four time periods for comparison based on implementation of CLABSI-reduction interventions. Conditional Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the effect of time (intervention period) on CLABSI rates with post hoc Tukey pairwise comparisons between each of the four time periods. Results: From 2006 and 2019, 227 patients experienced 310 CLABSIs. Clinically important decreases in CLABSI rates from baseline (4.84 per 1,000 line days) occurred with implementation of Children's Hospital Association (CHA) bundles (3.29 per 1,000 line days); however, this difference was not significant ( p = .16). CLABSI rates decreased from baseline with the addition of formalized supportive cares (2.66 per 1,000 line days; incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.60; p < .01), and with the use of antibacterial prophylaxis (1.66 per 1,000 line days; IRR = 0.35; p < .01). Post hoc comparisons indicated decreased CLABSI rates with the use of antibacterial prophylaxis compared with CHA bundles alone (IRR = 0.49; p = .011) and CHA bundles plus formalized supportive cares (IRR = 0.58; p = .046). Discussion: Results demonstrate sustained success using a practice-based evidence approach to guide CLABSI-reduction interventions. Follow-up research, applying machine learning algorithms, may identify additional risk factors and inform future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauri A. Linder
- University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Primary Children’s Hospital, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Cheryl Gerdy
- Primary Children’s Hospital, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Yeonjung Jo
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Population Health Sciences, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Crystal Stark
- Primary Children’s Hospital, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Andrew Wilson
- Parexel, Durham, NC, USA
- University of Utah Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Leardini D, Muratore E, Abram N, Baccelli F, Belotti T, Prete A, Gori D, Masetti R. Effectiveness of Quinolone Prophylaxis in Pediatric Acute Leukemia and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac594. [PMID: 36504701 PMCID: PMC9728521 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The effectiveness of quinolone prophylaxis in high-risk hematological pediatric patients is controversial. A systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, including studies that involved children and young adults undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukemia or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) who received quinolone prophylaxis compared with no prophylaxis. A meta-analysis was performed on bloodstream infections and neutropenic fever. Data regarding the impact of prophylaxis on overall survival, antibiotic exposure, antibiotic-related adverse effects, antibiotic resistance, Clostridium difficile infections, fungal infections, length of hospitalization, and costs were reviewed in the descriptive analysis. Sixteen studies were included in the qualitative analysis, and 10 of them met the criteria for quantitative analysis. Quinolone prophylaxis was effective in reducing the rate of bloodstream infections and neutropenic fever in pediatric acute leukemia compared with no prophylaxis, but it had no significant effect in HSCT recipients. Prophylaxis was associated with a higher rate of bacterial resistance to fluoroquinolones and higher antibiotic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicoletta Abram
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Baccelli
- Correspondence: F. Baccelli, MD, Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit “Lalla Seràgnoli,” Pediatric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Ospedale Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy ()
| | - Tamara Belotti
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Arcangelo Prete
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Gori
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Meeker D, Kallem C, Heras Y, Garcia S, Thompson C. Case report: evaluation of an open-source synthetic data platform for simulation studies. JAMIA Open 2022; 5:ooac067. [PMID: 35958672 PMCID: PMC9360775 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooac067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Simulation is a mainstay of comparative- and cost-effectiveness research when empirical data are not available. The Synthea platform, originally designed for generating realistically coded longitudinal health records for software testing, implements data generation models specified in publicly contributed modules representing patients’ life cycle and disease and treatment progression. We test the hypothesis that Synthea can be used for simulation studies that draw parameters from observational studies and randomized trials. We benchmarked the results and assessed the effort required to create a Synthea module that replicates a recently published cost-effectiveness simulation comparing levofloxacin prophylaxis to usual care for leukemia. A module was iteratively developed using published parameters from the original study; we replicated the initial conditions and simulation endpoints of demographics, health events, costs, and mortality. We compare Synthea’s Generic Module Framework to platforms designed for simulation and show that Synthea can be used, with modifications, for some types of simulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella Meeker
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Crystal Kallem
- Clinovations Government+Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Yan Heras
- Optimum eHealth, LLC, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Stephanie Garcia
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Casey Thompson
- Corresponding Author: Casey Thompson, MSN, RN-BC, Clinovations Government+Health, 1325 G Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005, USA;
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Abstract
Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapeutic drugs have become a popular choice as anticancer agents. Despite the therapeutic benefits of chemotherapeutic drugs, patients often experience side effects and drug resistance. Biopolymers could be used to overcome some of the limitations of chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as be used either as anticancer agents or drug delivery vehicles. Chitosan is a biocompatible polymer derived from chitin. Chitosan, chitosan derivatives, or chitosan nanoparticles have shown their promise as an anticancer agent. Additionally, functionally modified chitosan can be used to deliver nucleic acids, chemotherapeutic drugs, and anticancer agents. More importantly, chitosan-based drug delivery systems improved the efficacy, potency, cytotoxicity, or biocompatibility of these anticancer agents. In this review, we will investigate the properties of chitosan and chemically tuned chitosan derivatives, and their application in cancer therapy.
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