The increasing complexity of cancer chemotherapy makes it mandatory that pharmacists be familiar with these highly toxic agents. This column reviews various issues related to the preparation, dispensing, and administration of cancer chemotherapy, both commercially available and investigational.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CalvertA.H., NewellD.R., GumbrellL.A.Carboplatin dosage: Prospective evaluation of a simple formula based on renal function. J Clin Oncol.1989; 7(11): 1748–56.
2.
EgorinM.J., Van EchoD.A., OlmanE.A.Prospective validation of a pharmacologically based dosing scheme for the cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) analogue diamminecyclobutane-dicarboxylatoplatinum. Cancer Res.1985; 45: 6502–6.
3.
SmithI.E., EvansB.D., GoreM.E.Carboplatin (paraplatin; JM8) and etoposide (VP-16) as first-line combination therapy for small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol.1987; 5(2): 185–9.
4.
KosmidisP.A., SamantasE., FountzilasG.Cisplatin/etoposide versus carboplatin/etoposide chemotherapy and irradiation in small cell lung cancer: a randomized phase III study. Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group for Lung Cancer Trials. Semin Oncol.1994; 21(3 suppl 6): 23–30.
5.
KlasterskyJ., SculierJ P., LacroixH.A randomized study comparing cisplatin or carboplatin with etoposide in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Protocol 07861. J Clin Oncol.1990; 8(9): 1556–62.
6.
SkarlosD.V., SamantasE., KosmidisP.Randomized comparison of etoposide-cisplatin vs. etoposide-carboplatin and irradiation in small-cell lung cancer. A Hellenic Co-operative Oncology Group study. Ann Oncol.1994; 5(7): 601–7
7.
BishopJ.F., RaghavanD., Stuart-HarrisR.Carboplatin (CBDCA, JM-8) and VP-16-213 in previously untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol.1987; 5(10): 1574–8.
8.
JeremicB., ShibamotoY., AcimovicL.Randomized trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy for Stage III non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol.1995; 13(2): 452–8.
9.
AitiniE., CavazziniG., CantoreM.Carboplatin and etoposide in an out-patient schedule for the palliation of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Tumori.1995; 81(6): 429–31.
10.
JeremicB., ShibamotoY., AcimovicL.Hyperfractionated radiation therapy with or without concurrent low-dose daily carboplatin/etoposide for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: A randomized study. J Clin Oncol.1996; 14(4): 1065–70.
11.
LauD.H., RyuJ.K., GandaraD.R.Chemoradiotherapy for poor-risk stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Semin Oncol.1997; (4 suppl 12): S12-110–S12-112.
12.
LauD.H., CrowleyJ.J., GandaraD.R.Southwest Oncology Group phase II trial of concurrent carboplatin, etoposide, and radiation for poor-risk stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol.1998; 16(9): 3078–81.
13.
HelsingM., BergmanB., ThaningL.Quality of life and survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving supportive care plus chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide or supportive care only. A multicentre randomised phase III trial. Joint Lung Cancer Study Group. Eur J Cancer.1998; 34(7): 1036–44.
14.
JeremicB., ShibamotoY., AcimovicL.Carboplatin, etoposide, and accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy for elderly patients with limited small cell lung cancer. Cancer.1998; 82(5): 836–41.
15.
JeremicB., ShibamotoY., MilicicB.Short-term chemotherapy and palliative radiotherapy for elderly patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: A Phase II study. Lung Cancer.1999; 24(1): 1–9.
16.
GridelliC., D'AprileM., PalmeriS.Phase I study of chemotherapy with carboplatin, epirubicin, and escalating dose of VP-16 with G-CSF support in extensive small cell lung cancer. Am J Clin Oncol.1996; 19(6): 589–91.
17.
NakanishiY., KawaradaY., HiroseN.Phase II trial of combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, carboplatin and etoposide in stage IIIB and IV small-cell lung cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol.1998; 41: 453–6.
18.
ComellaP., ScoppaG., DaponteA.Alternating approach with local irradiation and combination chemotherapy including cisplatin or carboplatin plus epirubicin and etoposide in intermediate stage non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer.1994; 74(7): 1874–81.
19.
SamantasE., SkarlosD.V., PectasidesD.Combination chemotherapy with low doses of weekly Carboplatin and oral Etoposide in poor risk small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer.1999; 23(2): 159–68.
20.
PrendivilleJ., RadfordJ., ThatcherN.Intensive therapy for small-cell lung cancer using carboplatin alternating with cisplatin, ifosfamide, etoposide, mid-cycle vincristine, and radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol.1991; 9(8): 1446–52.
21.
SmithI.E., PerrenT.J., AshleyS.A.Carboplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide as intensive chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol.1990; 8(5): 899–905.
22.
GrecoF.A., HainsworthJ.D.Paclitaxel, carboplatin, and oral etoposide in the treatment of small cell lung cancer. Semin Oncol.1996; 23(6 suppl 16): 7–10.
23.
GatzemeierU., JagosU., KaukelE.Paclitaxel, carboplatin, and oral etoposide: A phase II trial in limited-stage small cell lung cancer. Semin Oncol.1997; 24(4 suppl 12): S12-149–S12-152.
24.
HainsworthJ.D., GrayJr, StroupS.L.Paclitaxel, carboplatin, and extended-schedule etoposide in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer: comparison of sequential phase II trials using different dose-intensities. J Clin Oncol.1997; 15(12): 3464–70.
25.
AdjeiA.A., MarksR.S., BonnerJ.A.Current guidelines for the management of small cell lung cancer. Mayo Clin Proc.1999; 74: 809–16.
26.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network.NCCN small-cell lung cancer practice guidelines. Oncology.1996; 10: 179–94.
27.
EttingerD.S., CoxJ.D., GinsbergR.J.Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Practice Guidelines. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Oncology.1996; 10(11 suppl): 81–111.
28.
Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer. Adopted on May 16, 1997 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol.1997; 15(8): 2996–3018.
29.
CheungY.W., CradockJ.C., VishnuvajjalaB.R., FloraK.P.Stability of cisplatin, iproplatin, carboplatin, and tetraplatin in commonly used intravenous solutions. Am J Hosp Pharm.1987; 44(1): 124–30.
30.
HeskethP.J., KrisM.G., GrunbergS.M.Proposal for classifying the acute emetogenicity of cancer chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol.1997; 15: 103–9.
31.
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.ASHP therapeutic guidelines on the pharmacologic management of nausea and vomiting in adult and pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy or undergoing surgery. Am J Health-Syst Pharm.1999; 56: 729–64.
32.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network.NCCN antiemesis practice guidelines. Oncology.1997; 11: 57–89.
33.
GrallaR.J., OsobaD., KrisM.G.Recommendations for the use of antiemetics: evidence-based, clinical practice guidelines. J Clin Oncol.1999; 17: 2971–94.
34.
MartinM.The severity and pattern of emesis following different cytotoxic agents. Oncology.1996; 53(suppl 1): 26–31.
35.
DuBoisA., VachW., KiechleM.Pathophysiology, severity, pattern, and risk factors for carboplaitn-induced emesis. Oncology.1996; 53(suppl 1): 26–31.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendations for the use of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors: Evidence-based, clinical practice guidelines. J Clin Oncol.1994; 12: 2471–2508.
LymanG.H., KudererN., GreeneJ.The economics of febrile neutropenia: implications for the use of colony-stimulating factors. Eur J Cancer.1998; 34: 1857–64.
40.
FrasciG., PerilloG., ComellaG.Phase I/II study of carboplatin and oral etoposide with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer.1995; 75(7): 1578–85.
41.
KatakamiN., TakadaM., NegoroS.Dose escalation study of carboplatin with fixed-dose etoposide plus granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in patients with small cell lung carcinoma. Cancer.1996; 7(1): 63–70.
42.
LuikartS.D., HerndonJ.E., HollisD.R.Phase I trial of etoposide, carboplatin, and GM-CSF in extensive small- cell lung cancer: A Cancer and Leukemia Group B study (CALGB 8832). Am J Clin Oncol.1997; 20(1): 24–30.
43.
LarsonD.L.Treatment of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents. Cancer.1982; 49: 1796–9.
44.
LarsonD.L.What is the appropriate management of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents?Plast Reconstr Surgery.1985; 75: 397–402.
45.
KintzelP.E., DorrR.T.Anticancer drug renal toxicity and elimination: dosing guidelines for altered renal function. Cancer Treat Rev.1995; 21: 33–64.
46.
KingP.D., PerryM.C.Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapeutic and oncologic agents. Gastroenterol Clin North Am.1995; 24: 969–89.