The increasing complexity of cancer chemotherapy makes it mandatory that pharmacists be familiar with these highly toxic agents. This column focuses on the commercially available and investigational agents used to treat malignant diseases and reviews issues related to the preparation, dispensing, and administration of cancer chemotherapy.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
RaiK.R., KeatingM.J.Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In: RoseB.D. (Ed). UpToDate.Wellesley, MA; 2003. Available at www.uptodate.com.
2.
ChesonB.D.The Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemias. In: DeVitaV.T., HellmanS., RosenbergS.A. (Eds). Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology.6th ed.Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2001, 2447–65.
3.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network.NCCN practice guidelines: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The Complete Library of NCCN Oncology Practice Guidelines [CD-ROM]. Rockledge, PA: National Comprehensive Cancer Network; 2003.
4.
BagleyC.M., DeVitaV.T., BerardC.W., CanellosG.P.Advanced Lymphosarcoma: Intensive cyclical combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone. Ann Int Med.1972; 76(2): 227–34.
5.
BonadonnaG., MonfardiniS., VillaE.Non-cross-resistant combinations in stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Cancer Treat Rep.1977; 61(6): 1117–23.
6.
KennedyB.J., BloomfieldC.D., KiangD.T.Combination versus successive single agent chemotherapy in lymphocytic lymphoma. Cancer.1978; 41(1): 23–8.
7.
JohnsonR.E., CanellosG.P., YoungR.C.Chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone) versus radiotherapy (total body irradiation) for stage III–IV poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma. Cancer Treat Rep.1978; 62(3): 321–5.
8.
LiepmanM., VotawM.L.The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with COP chemotherapy. Cancer.1978; 41(5): 1664–9.
9.
HoppeR.T., KushlanP., KaplanH.S.The treatment of advanced stage favorable histology non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: A preliminary report of a randomized trial comparing single agent chemotherapy, combination chemotherapy, and whole body irradiation. Blood.1981; 58(3): 592–8.
10.
BreretonH.D., YoungR.C., LongoD.L.A comparison between combination chemotherapy and total body irradiation plus combination chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cancer.1979; 43(6): 2227–31.
11.
RaphaelB., AndersenJ.W., SilberR.Comparison of chlorambucil and prednisone versus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone as initial treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Long-term follow-up of an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group randomized clinical trial. J Clin Oncol.1991; 9(5): 770–6.
12.
TeodorovicI., PittalugaS., Kluin-NelemansJ.C.Efficacy of four different regimens in 64 mantle-cell lymphoma cases: Clinicopathologic comparison with 498 other non-Hodgkin's lymphoma subtypes. European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Lymphoma Cooperative Group. J Clin Oncol.1995; 13(11): 2819–26.
13.
HoogstratenB., OwensA.H., LenhardR.E.Combination chemotherapy in lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma. Blood.1969; 33(2): 370–8.
14.
CardeP., BurgersJ.M., van GlabbekeM.Combined radiotherapy–hemotherapy for early stages non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: The 1975–1980 EORTC controlled lymphoma trial. Radiother Oncol.1984; 2(4): 301–12.
15.
MontserratE., AlcalaA., ParodyR.Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in advanced stages. Cancer.1985; 56(10): 2369–75.
16.
KlasaR.J., MeyerR.M., ShustikC.Randomized phase III study of fludarabine phosphate versus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone in patients with recurrent low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma previously treated with an alkylating agent or alkylator-containing regimen. J Clin Oncol.2002; 20(24): 4649–54.
17.
OkenM.M., KaplanM.E.Combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone in the treatment of refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer Treat Rep.1979; 63(3): 441–47.
18.
Cavallin-StahlE., MollerT.R.Prednimustine v cyclophosphamide-vincristine-prednisolone in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with favorable histopathology: Results of a national cancer care program in Sweden. Semin Oncol.1986; 13(1 suppl 1): 19–22.
19.
LandbergT.G., HakanssonL.G., MollerT.R.CVP-remission-maintenance in stage I or II non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: Preliminary results of a randomized study. Cancer.1979; 44(3): 831–8.
20.
LenhardR.E., EzdinliE.Z., CostelloW.Treatment of histiocytic and mixed lymphomas: A comparison of two, three and four drug chemotherapy. Cancer.1978; 42(1): 41–52.
21.
BishopJ.F., WiernikP.H., WesleyM.N.A randomized trial of high dose cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone plus or minus doxorubicin (CVP versus CAVP) with long-term follow-up in advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Leukemia.1987; 1(6): 508–13.
22.
Al-IsmailS.A., WhittakerJ.A., GoughJ.Combination chemotherapy including epirubicin for the management of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol.1987; 23(9): 1379–84.
23.
MonfardiniS., TanciniG., DeLenaM.Cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) versus adriamycin, bleomycin, and prednisone (ABP) in stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Med Pediatr Oncol.1977; 3(1): 67–74.
24.
StewardW.P., CrowtherD., McWilliamL.J.Maintenance chlorambucil after CVP in the management of advanced stage, low-grade histologic type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A randomized prospective study with an assessment of prognostic factors. Cancer.1988; 61(3): 441–7.
25.
TrisselL., ZhangY., CohenM.The stability of diluted vincristine sulfate used as a deterrent to inadvertent intrathecal injection. Hosp Pharm.2001; 36: 740–5.
26.
HeskethP.J., KrisM.G., GrunbergS.M.Proposal for classifying the acute emetogenicity of cancer chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol.1997; 15(1): 103–9.
27.
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.
28.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network.NCCN antiemesis practice guidelines. The Complete Library of NCCN Oncology Practice Guidelines [CD-ROM]. Rockledge, PA: National Comprehensive Cancer Network; 2003.
29.
GrallaR.J., OsobaD., KrisM.G.Recommendations for the use of antiemetics: Evidence-based, clinical practice guidelines. J Clin Oncol.1999; 17(9): 2971–94.
OzerH., ArmitageJ.O., BennettC.L.2000 update of recommendations for the use of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors: evidence-based, clinical practice guidelines. J Clin Oncol.2000; 18(20): 3558–85.
LymanG.H., KudererN., GreeneJ.The economics of febrile neutropenia: Implications for the use of colony-stimulating factors. Eur J Cancer.1998; 34(12): 1857–64.
34.
LymanG.H., BalducciL.Update of the economic analyses of the use of colony-stimulating factors. Curr Opin Hematol.1999; 6(3): 145–51.
35.
LymanG.H.A novel approach to maintain planned dose chemotherapy on time: A decision-making tool to improve patient care. Eur J Cancer.2000; 36(suppl 1): S15–S21.
36.
LarsonD.L.Treatment of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents. Cancer.1982; 49(9): 1796–9.
37.
LarsonD.L.What is the appropriate management of tissue extravasation by a ntitumor agents?Plast Reconstr Surg.1985; 75(3): 397–405.
38.
MullinS., BeckwithM.C., TylerL.S.Prevention and management of antineoplastic extravasation injury. Hosp Pharm.2000; 35(1): 57–74.
39.
KintzelP.E., DorrR.T.Anticancer drug renal toxicity and elimination: Dosing guidelines for altered renal function. Cancer Treat Rev.1995; 21: 33–64.
40.
PattersonW.P., ReamsG.P.Renal and electrolyte abnormalities due to chemotherapy. In: PerryM.C., Ed. The Chemotherapy Sourcebook.3rd ed.Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2001, 494–504.
41.
AronoffG.R., BernsJ.S., BrierMem (Eds). Drug Prescribing in Renal Failure.4th ed.Philadelphia, PA: American College of Physicians; 1999, 73.
42.
KingP.D., PerryM.C.Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapeutic and oncologic agents. Gastroenterol Clin North Am.1995; 24(4): 969–90.
43.
KingP.D., PerryM.C.Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. In: PerryM.C., Ed. The Chemotherapy Sourcebook.3rd ed.Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2001, 483–493.