Clinical correlates of severe thrombocytopenia from temozolomide in glioblastoma patients

The Clinical Efficacy and Economic Benefits of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin for the Treatment of Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Even though cytopenia caused by either chemotherapy or radiotherapy is a common complication in cancer patients, chemoradiotherapy remains an essential treatment for the majority of patients. The purpose of this study was to look into the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in treating chemo- or chemoradiotherapy-induced grade II, III, and IV thrombocytopenia. From December 2019 to November 2020, 233 lung cancer patients admitted to our hospital with chemotherapy- or chemoradiotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia were enrolled and treated with rhTPO. The study's findings revealed a significant disparity in the use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with grade II, III, and IV thrombocytopenia. All costs, including rhTPO treatment costs, platelet costs, drug costs, and nondrug costs, tended to rise as the severity of thrombocytopenia increased. In the treatment of chemotherapy or radiotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, rhTPO has shown good clinical efficacy. In the treatment of grade II thrombocytopenia, rhTPO has a favorable economic evaluation. As a result, early intervention and thrombocytopenia treatment should be provided, which warrants further clinical investigation.

Managing Side Effects of Cytotoxic Chemotherapy in Patients With High Grade Gliomas

Cytotoxic chemotherapy has been a mainstay of cancer treatment since the 1940s. In the recent era of emergent targeted therapies and immunotherapies, many cytotoxic chemotherapy agents including temozolomide are still one of main weapons for the treatment of high grade gliomas. However, cytotoxic chemotherapy often causes side effects. Proper management of chemotherapy-induced toxicity can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life and clinical outcomes. Many supportive care advances have transformed our ability to give full doses of chemotherapy, which is important for achieving their full efficacy. Prevention and treatment strategies have been developed for many chemotherapy-related toxicities. This review focused on managing gastrointestinal toxicity, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and hematologic toxicities such as thrombocytopenia during cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment in high-grade brain tumors.

Temozolomide-induced myelotoxicity and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the MGMT gene in patients with adult diffuse glioma: a single-institutional pharmacogenetic study

PURPOSE

Nearly 10% of patients with adult diffuse glioma develop clinically significant myelotoxicity while on temozolomide (TMZ) leading to treatment interruptions. This study aimed to assess single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene in adults with biopsy-proven diffuse glioma who develop TMZ-induced myelotoxicity and correlate their presence with severity and duration of such toxicity.

METHODS

This study assessed 33 adults treated with TMZ for diffuse glioma who developed ≥ grade 2 thrombocytopenia and/or ≥ grade 3 neutropenia. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells for MGMT SNP analysis after written informed consent. TMZ-induced severe myelotoxicity (≥ grade 3) was correlated with three specified SNPs commonly seen in the MGMT gene (L84F, I143V/K178R) using chi-square test or Fischer's exact test as appropriate.

RESULTS

Of the 33 adults, 24 (72.7%) experienced ≥ grade 3 thrombocytopenia and/or neutropenia, while 9 (27.3%) developed grade 2 thrombocytopenia only. The variant T allele of L84F was expressed in 28.7% (19/66) of analyzed alleles, which was substantially higher than previously reported for South Asian ancestry. The variant G allele of I143V/K178R was expressed in 9.3% (6/64) of analyzed alleles. Of which 3 patients showed statistically significant association with prolonged myelosuppression for > 2 months (p = 0.03). No significant correlation was established between the mentioned SNPs and severe myelotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

There is substantially higher frequency of variant T allele (L84F) in Indian patients than previously reported for South Asians. The presence of specific SNPs in the MGMT gene correlates with prolonged duration but not severity of TMZ-induced myelotoxicity.

Adjuvant chemotherapy after severe myelotoxicity during chemoradiation phase in malignant gliomas. Is it feasibile? Results from AINO study (Italian Association for Neuro-Oncology)

BACKGROUND

Malignant gliomas (MG) are aggressive brain tumours in adults. The standard of care is concurrent radiation plus temozolomide (TMZ) [chemo-radiotherapy (CRT)] followed by TMZ maintenance up to 6 months. TMZ is considered to have a low toxicity profile, but several studies reported occurrence of severe myelosuppression, especially during the concomitant phase. Toxicity may be prolonged, thus treatment should be discontinued.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the risk of recurrente myelotoxicity during adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) in patients who recovered from severe myelotoxicity during CRT.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected data on patients with MG who developed and recovered from severe myelotoxicity during CRT from eight Italian neuro-oncology centers.

RESULTS

We included 87 patients. Histology was Glioblastoma (GBM) in 78 patients (89.7%); 60% of patients were female. After myelotoxicity recovery, 54 (62%) received treatment. The majority of them (82%, n = 44) received adjuvant TMZ and 18% (n = 10) others treatments. Out of 44 patients who received adjuvant TMZ, 34% experienced the re-occurrence of grade 3-4 myelotoxicity which required permanent CT discontinuation in 6 (13%) cases. Patients who received TMZ or other treatments had longer overall (OS) (adjusted HR 0.46, p = 0.008) and progression free survival (PFS) (adjusted HR 0.57, p = 0.034) than those who remained untreated.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that after severe myelotoxicity the majority of patients received treatment, particularly with TMZ. Only a fraction of patients experienced toxicity recurrence, suggesting that TMZ is well tolerated and had an impact on PFS and OS.