Knowledge, practice and attitudes regarding substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction strategies among pharmacists: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Pharmacists provide a spectrum of services and comprehensive medication management for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) with many providing timely and increased access to care for patients. Prior studies have evaluated other healthcare professionals' attitudes, knowledge and practice in regard to SUD treatment and harm reduction services. However, no reviews to date summarise the available literature on the attitudes, knowledge and practice in regard to SUD treatment and harm reduction services from the pharmacist perspective. This scoping review aims to systematically map the extent, range and nature of available evidence and identify and describe gaps in knowledge, practice and attitudes towards SUD treatment among pharmacists with the goal of providing information for meaningful integration of pharmacists into SUD care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will use the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005) updated with recommendations by Levac et al (2010) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (2020). The protocol is registered via Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/92dek). We will search for peer-reviewed literature containing empirical evidence investigating SUD treatment or harm reduction with outcomes pertaining to the knowledge, practice or attitudes of pharmacists. Findings will be guided and assessed by research objectives and summarised using descriptive statistics and thematically for quantitative and qualitative findings, respectively. This review will be conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Our findings will provide crucial information and support for future interventions and programmes which aim to meaningfully integrate pharmacists into SUD care. We will disseminate findings at conferences and publish in a peer-reviewed journal. In addition, we will integrate feedback on search strategy, data extraction and our dissemination approach from multidisciplinary collaborators including those within our team's institution and outside experts with clinical or administrative knowledge in SUD care.

Characterizing industry payments to US teaching hospitals and affiliated physicians: a cross-sectional analysis of the Open Payments datasets from 2016 to 2022

Industry payments to US teaching hospitals are common; however, little is known about whether these financial relationships influence affiliated physicians to engage in similar financial relationships with industry. Using national hospital, physician, and industry payment data we investigated trends in industry payments made to US teaching hospitals and affiliated physicians to characterize the magnitude and nature of payments. In addition, we assessed if physicians may be influenced to accept higher value industry payments depending on the value of promotional payments accepted by the teaching hospital they affiliate with. We found that physicians with a US teaching hospital affiliation are associated with accepting higher value industry payments as the total value of industry payments of the teaching hospital increases. Our findings varied by specialty, with surgeons accepting the highest value payments. These results highlight the need for greater public disclosure and awareness of payments to better manage and mitigate industry-biased clinical decision making.

The Role of Physician Networks and Receipt of Opioid-Related Payments

BACKGROUND

Opioid-related promotional payments are associated with increased prescribing of the promoted drug, but little is known about whether physicians receiving payments influence peers to accept similar payments.

OBJECTIVE

We examine the association of physician network-level position among peers and the acceptance of opioid-related promotional payments using national publicly available datasets from 2015. Design National cross-sectional data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Downloadable File and Open Payment data.

SUBJECTS

Physicians who shared Medicare patients with at least two other physicians in 2015.

MAIN MEASURES

Modified Poisson's regressions are used to estimate the adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) for social network position (i.e., degree, betweenness, and transitivity) and number of peers with payments as a function of individual receipt of opioid-related promotional payment and among those with payments, those who have five or more payments, and those who have $100 or more in payments.

KEY RESULTS

Physicians with opioid-related payments were significantly more likely to have at least one peer with an opioid-related payment (IRR: 2.5, 95% CI: 2.3-2.8), but had fewer shared patients (i.e., top quartile compared to the first quartile for degree centrality: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3-0.4) and belonged to less cohesive networks (i.e., top quartile compared to the first quartile for betweenness centrality: 0.9, 95% CI: 0.8-0.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that physicians receiving opioid-related payments are more likely to cluster within physician networks.

A personal journey to build leadership skills through collaboration to support radiography research and evidence-based practice

Introduction

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact on how radiotherapy is delivered, how staff do their job and how patients are cared for. Part of the UK NHS response to the covid-19 crisis was to accelerate final year radiotherapy students into work as therapeutic radiographers. The study objective is to explore the experiences of a cohort of new registrants who started work in May 2020.

Methods

In depth interviews were conducted remotely with newly qualified therapeutic radiography registrants regarding their first 12 months working in UK NHS cancer centres. Data were analysed within and across cases using a framework analysis and synthesised thematically.

Results

Eleven radiographers were interviewed, working across six different sites. Key generated themes are the risk of impaired professional socialisation due to incongruence between students’ expectations and the reality in clinical departments. We use Bridges Transitional Model to show how a combination of the disrupted/undefined end to university and a perceived lack of recognition of professional knowledge, skills and values evident in our data may leave participants stuck in a middle stage of the transition process. Slower than expected professional development led to demotivation, which was also associated with rising covid-19 case numbers.

Conclusion

The covid-19 pandemic accentuated and heightened the existing challenge of professional integration and socialisation faced by new therapeutic radiography staff. Demotivation and potentially attrition are more likely in this environment. Compassionate leadership that fosters the mentorship of junior cohorts as part of a flexible preceptorship package could mitigate these risks.

Expectations of therapeutic radiography students in Wales about transitioning to practice during the Covid-19 pandemic as registrants on the HCPC temporary register

INTRODUCTION

The Covid-19 crisis continues to profoundly impact on radiotherapy practice in the UK. We explore the views of therapeutic radiographer students on entering their first post in unique circumstances as a means to evaluate the support that may minimise negative impacts on their transition to practitioners.

METHOD

Focus groups were conducted outside of students' final year educational programme and immediately prior to them starting work. Qualitative data were analysed using a framework analysis.

RESULTS

Emergent themes from the eleven participants were: Covid-19 as a layer on top of underlying anxieties; Degree of readiness for imminent psychological, emotional and practical challenges; Feeling valued as a health professional/radiographer at this time; A mixed student and qualified staff professional identity as HCPC temporary registrants.

CONCLUSION

Uncertainties related to Covid-19 were seen to add a destabilising component to existing anxieties and challenges. In this context, there are significant risks of impaired professional socialisation due to incongruence between students' expectations and the reality in clinical departments.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Informed academic support and flexible clinical preceptorship that address anxieties and congruence barriers are vital to guide new practitioners through a health crisis that presents significant challenges but also opportunity for professional development.

Comorbidity Type and Health Care Costs in Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Claims Database Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies suggest that the type and combination of comorbidities may impact diabetes care, but their cost implications are less clear. This study characterized how diabetes patients' health care utilization and costs may vary according to comorbidity type classified on the basis of the Piette and Kerr framework.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study of privately insured US adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (n = 138,466) using the 2014-2016 Optum Clinformatics^® Data Mart. Diabetes patients were classified into five mutually exclusive comorbidity groups: concordant only, discordant only, both concordant and discordant, any dominant, and none. We estimated average health care costs of each comorbidity group by using generalized linear models, adjusting for patient demographics, region, insurance type, and prior-year costs.

RESULTS

Most type 2 diabetes patients had discordant conditions only (27%), dominant conditions (25%), or both concordant and discordant conditions (24%); 7% had concordant conditions only. In adjusted analyses, comorbidities were significantly associated with higher health care costs (p < 0.0001) and the magnitude of the association varied with comorbidity type. Diabetes patients with dominant comorbidities incurred substantially higher costs ($38,168) compared with individuals with both concordant and discordant conditions ($20,401), discordant conditions only ($9173), concordant conditions only ($9000), and no comorbidities ($3365). More than half of the total costs in our sample (53%) were attributable to 25% of diabetes patients who had dominant comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes patients with both concordant and discordant conditions and with clinically dominant conditions incurred substantially higher health costs than other diabetes patients. Our findings suggest that diabetes management programs must explicitly address concordant, discordant, and dominant conditions because patients may have distinctly different health care needs and utilization patterns depending on their comorbidity profiles. The Piette and Kerr framework may serve as a screening tool to identify high-need, high-cost diabetes patients and suggest targets for tailored interventions.

FUNDING

Sanofi.

Children with facial morphoea managing everyday life: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Facial morphoea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, typically presenting in childhood and adolescence, which can be disfiguring, and which has been suggested to cause mild-to-moderate impairment in quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the everyday experiences of children with facial morphoea by examining the psychosocial impact of living with facial morphoea and how children and their families manage its impact.

METHODS

We used a qualitative, social constructionist approach involving focus groups, in-depth interviews and drawing activities with 10 children with facial morphoea aged 8-17 years and 13 parents. Interpretive thematic analysis was utilized to examine the data.

RESULTS

Children and parents reported on the stress of living with facial morphoea, which was related to the lack of knowledge about facial morphoea and the extent to which they perceived themselves as different from others. Self-perceptions were based on the visibility of the lesion, different phases of life transitions and the reactions of others (e.g. intrusive questioning and bullying). Medication routines, and side-effects such as weight gain, added to the stress experienced by the participants. To manage the impact of facial morphoea, children and their parents used strategies to normalize the experience by hiding physical signs of the illness, constructing explanations about what 'it' is, and by connecting with their peers.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding what it is like to live with facial morphoea from the perspectives of children and parents is important for devising ways to help children with the disorder achieve a better quality of life. Healthcare providers can help families access resources to manage anxiety, deal with bullying and construct adequate explanations of facial morphoea, in addition to providing opportunities for peer support.

A Comparison of Coverage Restrictions for Biopharmaceuticals and Medical Procedures

BACKGROUND

Differences in payer evaluation and coverage of pharmaceuticals and medical procedures suggest that coverage may differ for medications and procedures independent of their clinical benefit. We hypothesized that coverage for medications is more restricted than corresponding coverage for nonmedication interventions.

METHODS

We included top-selling medications and highly utilized procedures. For each intervention-indication pair, we classified value in terms of cost-effectiveness (incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year), as reported by the Tufts Medical Center Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry. For each intervention-indication pair and for each of 10 large payers, we classified coverage, when available, as either "more restrictive" or as "not more restrictive," compared with a benchmark. The benchmark reflected the US Food and Drug Administration label information, when available, or pertinent clinical guidelines. We compared coverage policies and the benchmark in terms of step edits and clinical restrictions. Finally, we regressed coverage restrictiveness against intervention type (medication or nonmedication), controlling for value (cost-effectiveness more or less favorable than a designated threshold).

RESULTS

We identified 392 medication and 185 procedure coverage decisions. A total of 26.3% of the medication coverage and 38.4% of the procedure coverage decisions were more restrictive than their corresponding benchmarks. After controlling for value, the odds of being more restrictive were 42% lower for medications than for procedures. Including unfavorable tier placement in the definition of "more restrictive" greatly increased the proportion of medication coverage decisions classified as "more restrictive" and reversed our findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapy access depends on factors other than cost and clinical benefit, suggesting potential health care system inefficiency.

Palivizumab Prophylaxis for Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Examining the Evidence Around Value

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection and the leading cause of hospitalization among young children, incurring high annual costs among US children under the age of 5 years. Palivizumab has been found to be effective in reducing hospitalization and preventing serious lower respiratory tract infections in high-risk infants. This paper presents a systematic review of the cost-effectiveness studies of palivizumab and describes the main highlights of a round table discussion with clinical, payer, economic, research method, and other experts. The objectives of the discussion were to (1) review the current state of clinical, epidemiology, and economic data related to severe RSV disease; (2) review new cost-effectiveness estimates of RSV immunoprophylaxis in US preterm infants, including a review of the field’s areas of agreement and disagreement; and (3) identify needs for further research.

Propranolol and central nervous system function: potential implications for paediatric patients with infantile haemangiomas

Given its improved safety profile compared with systemic corticosteroids, propranolol has become the mainstay treatment of infantile haemangioma (IH) worldwide. There is evidence, mainly from adult volunteer studies, that propranolol use is associated with central nervous system (CNS) effects. Impairment to short- and long-term memory, psychomotor function, sleep quality and mood with relatively low doses and durations of treatment have been reported. The exact magnitude of CNS effects resulting from propranolol use, especially in the early developmental stages and for prolonged periods of use, is not currently known. These effects may not be readily recognizable and require specialized assessment of cognitive function not routinely performed. Furthermore, there may be a delay between exposure and cognitive defects. The evidence to date provides a strong rationale to proceed with caution when prescribing propranolol for IH: treatment should be used only when indicated (in the presence of ulceration, impairment of a vital function or risk of permanent disfigurement) and for a limited duration, and the benefits of treatment should be weighed carefully against potential adverse events before treatment is initiated. This narrative review describes the evidence for an effect of propranolol use on CNS function from volunteer and patient studies, including IH.

Childhood psoriasis treatment: evidence published over the last 5 years

Psoriasis is a common skin condition seen in pediatrics. Treatment modalities used to treat psoriasis in children are different from those prevailing in the adult population and require adequate testing in pediatric subjects. This article reviews the published evidence on the different treatment modalities for pediatric psoriasis over the past 5 years.

Phase I study of pemetrexed plus cisplatin in unresectable, advanced gastric carcinoma in Taiwan

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Background: Phase I of this Phase I/II study (H3E-AA-S038) was conducted to determine the recommended dose of pemetrexed (PT) when given with cisplatin (Cis) to patients with unresectable, advanced gastric carcinoma. Methods: Patients 18 to 70 years of age, with stage IV disease or post-surgery recurrence, no prior palliative chemotherapy, and an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 were included. Patients received PT and Cis on Day 1 every 21 days. Cis was dosed at 75 mg/m2. PT dosage was planned at 600, 700, 800, and 900 mg/m2. Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation, and dexamethasone (or equivalent corticosteroid) prophylaxis were required. The initial number of patients to be enrolled per dose level (DL) was 3. If 0/3 patients had dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), PT dose was escalated. If 1/3 patients had DLT, 3 more patients were enrolled at that DL. If ≥2 patients had DLT, the dose was not escalated further. The recommended dose of PT for Phase II was the highest dose at which <2/6 patients experienced DLT. The following toxicities were defined as DLT: death due to toxicity; neutropenia [<0/5 × 109/L for ≥5 days, or <1.0 × 109/L with fever (≥38.5 ºC)]; thrombocytopenia (<10.0 × 109/L, or <50.0 × 109/L with bleeding); AST or ALT >20 × ULN; and non-hematological toxicities of CTC grade 3 or 4 (except nausea and vomiting). Intra-patient dose escalation was not permitted. Results: Sixteen patients were enrolled. The mean (±SD) age of enrolled patients was 52.8 (±10.0) years, and the majority were male (62.5%). At DL1, 0/3 patients experienced DLT. At DL2, 1/6 patients had DLT. At DL3, 3/7 patients had DLT, and so PT dose was not escalated. All DLTs occurred in cycle 1; 2 involved neutropenia, 1 tumor hemorrhage, and 1 hypokalemia. Grade 3/4 toxicities were experienced by 12/16 (75%) patients, including 9 (56%) hematological and 10 (63%) non-hematological events. Five out of thirteen (38%) patients with measurable disease had a RECIST response (2 had a complete response, 1 each at DL1 and DL2; 3 had a partial response, 2 at DL2 and 1 at DL3). At this interim analysis, 2 patients were still on therapy. Conclusions: The recommended dose of PT is 700 mg/m2. Phase II will examine response and safety of PT plus Cis in advanced gastric carcinoma.

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204THE PRODUCTION OF INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION LION (PANTHERA LEO) EMBYROS USING SPERMATOZOA COLLECTED BY PERCUTANEOUS EPIDIDYMAL SPERM ASPIRATION FROM VASECTOMIZED MALES

Contraception and/or sterilization methods have become an essential component of many captive animal management programs. Sterilization techniques are considered to be the last resort if a viable contraceptive cannot be attained and are generally not considered reversible. The African lion (Panthera leo) is one species in which sterilization techniques have been routinely applied. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a method for the collection of spermatozoa from male lions that have been previously rendered sterile by vasectomy. Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) is a technique in which spermatozoa are aspirated from the epididymis and no surgical incision is required. In the present study, two lions (12 and 19 yrs old) were anesthetized and PESA was attempted. A 21-gauge needle attached to a 10-mL syringe (Norm-Ject) filled with 2–3mL of Tyrodes HEPES medium was gently inserted into the head of the epididymis and aspirated gently until spermatozoa were noted. Spermatozoa were visually assessed for motility (grade 1–5; 1=few motile sperm to 5=all motile), sperm concentrations were determined and then the sperm were cryopreserved. The total sperm concentration collected from the older (19yr) male was lower than that obtained from the younger (12yr) lion (0.08×106sperm/mL v. 65.5×106sperm/mL, respectively). Furthermore, more motile spermatozoa (grade 3) were collected from the younger individual compared to the older male (grade 1). Sperm samples from the 12-yr-old lion were frozen by multi-step addition of TEST yolk buffer+glycerol. Lionesses (n=3) were subjected to laparoscopic oocyte retrieval after gonadotropin treatment. A total of 38 oocytes were retrieved and 74% (28/38) were mature as determined by extrusion of the first polar body. Mature oocytes were subjected to ICSI using frozen-thawed spermatozoa obtained by PESA. More than 60% (17/28) of the injected oocytes cleaved and 100% (17/17) reached the morula stage by Day 5 or 6 of IVC. Embryos were cryopreserved and were subsequently transferred (n=15) into one lioness. We have demonstrated that it is possible to collect viable spermatozoa from sterile male lions using the PESA technique. Spermatozoa collected were motile and could be cryopreserved and functional for assisted reproductive techniques. This technique could be applied to other infertile or sterile males whose genetic background would benefit a current conservation program.

The experience of registered nurses nursing in the general audit intensive care unit

In this article a phenomenological qualitative research study is discussed. More attention will be given to the methodology of the research. The objectives of the study are two-fold: firstly to explore and describe the experience of registered nurses nursing in the adult intensive care unit (this is the first phase of the research) and to describe guidelines based on the information obtained in the first phase to support the nurses in the form of a support programme in the second phase. The units of research are the registered nurses in the intensive care unit. The characteristics of the unit of research led to the emergence of a qualitative phenomenological research design of an explorative, descriptive and contextual nature. In the discussion of research methodology attention will be given to phase one: data gathering (ethical considerations and informed consent; purposive selection, phenomenological interviews and field notes); data analysis (Tesch’s method of data analysis, methods to ensure trustworthiness, organisation of raw data and integration of findings supported by literature. Five themes were identified through the data analysis: impaired communication with management; discrimination: white on black racism; lack of fair, competitive remuneration and disregard for professional worth; non-conducive physical environment, and stressful working environment. Phase two: Guidelines were described to support the registered nurses in the intensive care unit based on the information obtained in phase one of the research.

The experience of registered nurses nursing in the general adult intensive care unit. A phenomenological qualitative research study

In this article a phenomenological qualitative research study is discussed. More attention will be given to the methodology of the research. The objectives of the study are two-fold: firstly to explore and describe the experience of registered nurses nursing in the adult intensive care unit (this is the first phase of the research) and to describe guidelines based on the information obtained in the first phase to support the nurses in the form of a support programme in the second phase. The units of research are the registered nurses in the intensive care unit. The characteristics of the unit of research led to the emergence of a qualitative phenomenological research design of an explorative, descriptive and contextual nature. In the discussion of research methodology attention will be given to phase one: data gathering (ethical considerations and informed consent; purposive selection, phenomenological interviews and field notes); data analysis (Tesch's method of data analysis, methods to ensure trustworthiness, organisation of raw data and integration of findings supported by literature. Five themes were identified through the data analysis: impaired communication with management; discrimination: white on black racism; lack of fair, competitive remuneration and disregard for professional worth; non-conducive physical environment, and stressful working environment. Phase two: Guidelines were described to support the registered nurses in the intensive care unit based on the information obtained in phase one of the research.

Salivary measurement of deferiprone concentrations and correlation with serum levels

Deferiprone (L1) is the first clinically available oral iron chelator and it has been proven to be effective for the treatment of transfusional iron overload in thalassemic patients. Because many of these patients have impaired compliance with their medications, effective means of continuous monitoring of compliance are crucial. Saliva drug monitoring has the potential advantage of an easy, noninvasive approach, assuming that it represents serum levels. However, drugs have variable correlations between saliva and serum concentration. We compared serum and saliva levels of L1 at various time points after ingestion of a 75 mg/kg/day dose in nine thalassemic patients. A highly significant correlation between serum-free L1 and saliva levels (r = 0.97, p = 0.0003) was found. Pharmacokinetic profiles were similar using serum and saliva monitoring. We conclude that saliva can be substituted for serum in monitoring L1 levels.

Pemoline-associated fulminant liver failure: testing the evidence for causation

BACKGROUND

Pemoline is a central nervous system stimulant used in treating children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Hepatotoxicity has been commonly reported in association with pemoline; however, only two reports of cases of fatal liver failure have been published.

OBJECTIVES

We report on a 14-year-old boy who received concomitant pemoline and methylphenidate in whom fulminant liver failure occurred and for whom liver transplantation failed. Other causes of fulminant liver failure were ruled out, and the liver biopsy was suggestive of drug toxicity. We estimated the probability that these three cases represent an increased risk of fulminant liver failure associated with pemoline.

RESULTS

Based on the three known cases of fatal liver failure associated with pemoline use, we calculated that a child receiving pemoline has a relative risk of development of fulminant liver failure of 45.3 (95% confidence interval, 4.1 to 510). This highly significant association (p < 0.001) suggests causation.

CONCLUSIONS

Because pemoline has been widely used in recent years, further studies are needed to better quantify this risk in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

Effects of arytenoid abduction and modified castellated laryngofissure on the rima glottidis in canine cadavers

The percentages of change in cross-sectional area and dorsoventral height of the rima glottidis were measured after seven types of laryngoplasty in 30 postmortem canine specimens. The mean increases in area after each procedure were, in decreasing order, bilateral cricoarytenoid disarticulation with interarytenoid sesamoid band transection before placement of arytenoid abduction sutures 350% +/- 42%, bilateral placement of arytenoid abduction sutures 318% +/- 40%, bilateral cricothyroid disarticulation before placement of arytenoid abduction sutures 255% +/- 51%, modified castellated laryngofissure 244% +/- 30%, unilateral cricoarytenoid disarticulation with interarytenoid sesamoid band transection before placement of an arytenoid abduction suture 161% +/- 25%, unilateral placement of an arytenoid abduction suture 151% +/- 24% and unilateral cricothyroid disarticulation before placement of an arytenoid abduction suture 108% +/- 25%. Bilateral cricoarytenoid disarticulation with interarytenoid sesamoid band transection before placement of arytenoid abduction sutures resulted in a significantly greater increase in rima glottidis area than modified castellated laryngofissure and all unilateral arytenoid abduction techniques. Modified castellated laryngofissure resulted in a significantly greater increase than unilateral placement of an arytenoid abduction suture and cricothyroid disarticulation before placement of an arytenoid abduction suture. Bilateral disarticulation of the cricothyroid joint before placement of arytenoid abduction sutures resulted in significant collapse of the dorsoventral height of the rima glottidis.

Effects of four preparations of 0.05% chlorhexidine diacetate on wound healing in dogs

Four chlorhexidine diacetate (CHD) antiseptic wound lavage preparations were evaluated in vivo to determine their effects on second intention wound healing in the dog in vitro to determine their relative antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus intermedius. Chlorhexidine was diluted to 0.05% in sterile water, 0.9% sodium chloride, lactated Ringers solution (LRS), and LRS that was allowed to form a precipitate with CHD. Control solutions included sterile water and LRS. There were no significant differences in wound contraction or epithelialization. All 0.05% CHD preparations provided 100% bacterial kill.

Cytotoxic chemotherapy and androgen priming in patients with advanced carcinoma of the prostate. A phase II trial of the Piedmont Oncology Association

Twenty-three patients with advanced prostatic cancer refractory to hormonal therapy were entered into a phase II study of cytotoxic chemotherapy combined with androgen priming. Patients received vincristine 0.5 mg on day 1; fluoxymesterone 10 mg p.o. TID, days 1-5; methotrexate 4 mg/m2 p.o., days 1-7; and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 I.V., day 8. Patients entered had no prior chemotherapy, most were symptomatic but ambulatory (18/23), and almost all had bone metastases (22/23). There were two stable responses and 14 progressions in 16 patients evaluable for response. Hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities were substantial. Androgen priming was an unsatisfactory method of improving response in this trial.

Sequential hemibody and local irradiation with combination chemotherapy for small cell lung carcinoma: a preliminary analysis

Sequential hemibody irradiation (SHB) was integrated with combination chemotherapy and local irradiation (LRT) in the induction and consolidation phases of a therapeutic protocol for small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Forty-one previously untreated patients were entered into this program. Among 38 evaluable patients (20 with limited disease [LD] and 18 with extensive disease [ED], the overall response rate was 63% (90% in LD and 33% in ED patients). The estimated overall survival is 8.1 months. The major toxicity has been myelosuppression--especially thrombocytopenia. The frequency of previously described "acute radiation syndromes" and radiation pneumonitis associated with hemibody irradiation have been substantially decreased at the current dosage with premedication and shielding techniques. The integration of SHB as a systemic therapy with combination chemotherapy and LRT is a feasible program for sequential administration of non-cross-resistant agents in SCLC and may be beneficial in patients with limited disease.

A phase II study of dibromodulcitol (DBD) in stage IV melanoma

Twenty-four patients were evaluated in a non-randomized study to assess the effectiveness of dibromodulcitol (DBD) in Stage IV melanoma. Patients received 100 mg/m2 of DBD orally for 35 days. The dose was escalated to 130 mg/m2 and then to 160 mg/m2 if no significant hematologic toxicity occurred. There were no objective responses, including six patients who had had no prior chemotherapy. Five patients (21%) remained stable. Median survival was 151 days. Survival favored females, nonvisceral involvement pretherapy, and patients with a disease-free interval (DFI) of greater than 1 year. None of these advantages was statistically significant. Toxicity was predominantly hematologic, but nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and diarrhea were also seen. Oral DBD, using this dose and schedule, does not appear efficacious in advanced disseminated melanoma.

Vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide versus low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil in advanced breast cancer: a randomized trial of the Piedmont Oncology Association

Eighty-one evaluable patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer were randomized to receive either vincristine 1 mg/m2, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 on day one and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/m2 orally days 3-6 (VAC); or cyclophosphamide 350 mg/m2, methotrexate 20 mg/m2, and 5-fluorouracil 350 mg/m2 (CMF) intravenously, all on day 1. Courses of each of the above regimens were repeated every three weeks. Twenty-one of 45 patients (47%) on VAC and seven of 44 patients (16%) on CMF had complete or partial response (P less than 0.05). The duration of response was six months for CMF and nine months for VAC. Hematologic toxicity was minimal for both groups but three patients receiving VAC developed cardiac toxicity. Overall survival projections at this time indicate no differences between the VAC or CMF treated patients.