The increasing complexity of cancer chemotherapy increases the requirement that pharmacists be familiar with these highly toxic agents. This column will review various issues related to preparation, dispensing and administration of cancer chemotherapy, and review various agents, both commercially available and investigational, used to treat malignant diseases.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AhnJ.H., KimS.B., SohnH.J., LeeJ.S., KangY.K., Kun KimW.Docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer patients with previous exposure to anthracyclines. Breast.2005; 14: 304–309.
2.
VassilomanolakisM., KoumakisG., BarbounisV.. First-line chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin in metastatic breast cancer. Breast.2005; 14: 136–141.
3.
Docetaxel plus cisplatin is effective for patients with metastatic breast cancer resistant to previous anthracycline treatment: a phase II clinical trial. BMC Cancer.2005; 5: 21.
4.
LeeY.J., DolinyP., Gomez-FernandezC., PowellJ., ReisI., HurleyJ.Docetaxel and cisplatin as primary chemotherapy for treatment of locally advanced breast cancers. Clin Breast Cancer.2004; 5: 371–376.
5.
SpielmannM., LlombartA., ZelekL., SverdlinR., RixeO., Le CesneA.Docetaxel-cisplatin combination (DC) chemotherapy in patients with anthracycline-resistant advanced breast cancer. Ann Oncol.1999; 10: 1457–1460.
6.
LaackE., AndritzkyB., DurkH.. Docetaxel and cisplatin as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic esophageal cancer: a pilot study. Onkologie.2005; 28: 647–650.
7.
KimH., ParkJ.H., BangS.J.. A phase II study of docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with gastric cancer recurring after or progressing during 5-FU/platinum treatment. Jpn J Clin Oncol.2005; 35: 727–732.
8.
KunisakiC., ImadaT., YamadaR.. Phase II study of docetaxel plus cisplatin as a second-line combined therapy in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. Anticancer Res.2005; 25: 2973–2977.
9.
SchullB., KornekG.V., SchmidK.. Effective combination chemotherapy with bimonthly docetaxel and cisplatin with or without hematopoietic growth factor support in patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer. Oncology.2003; 65: 211–217.
10.
RothA.D.European experience of docetaxel and cisplatin in advanced gastric cancer. Gastric Cancer.2002; 5(Suppl 1): 27–29.
11.
SaitohS., SakataY.Docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer: results of Japanese phase I/II study. Gastric Cancer.2002; 5(Suppl 1): 23–26.
12.
RidwelskiK., GebauerT., FahlkeJ.. Combination chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin for locally advanced and metastatic gastric cancer. Ann Oncol.2001; 12: 47–51.
13.
RothA.D., MaibachR., MartinelliG.. Docetaxel (Taxotere)-cisplatin (TC): an effective drug combination in gastric carcinoma. Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK), and the European Institute of Oncology (EIO). Ann Oncol.2000; 11: 301–306.
14.
Guntinas-LichiusO., AppenrodtS., VeelkenF., KrugB.Phase II study of weekly docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with advanced recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer. Laryngoscope.2006; 116: 613–618.
15.
HehrT., ClassenJ., BelkaC.. Reirradiation alternating with docetaxel and cisplatin in inoperable recurrence of head-and-neck cancer: a prospective phase I/II trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.2005; 61: 1423–1431.
16.
YabuuchiH., KuroiwaT., TajimaT., TomitaK., OchiaiN., KawamotoK.Efficacy of intra-arterial infusion therapy using a combination of cisplatin and docetaxel for recurrent head and neck cancers compared with cisplatin alone. Clin Oncol Coll Radiol).2003; 15: 467–472.
17.
GedlickaC., FormanekM., SelzerE.. Phase II study with docetaxel and cisplatin in the treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Oncology.2002; 63: 145–150.
18.
BaurM., KienzerH.R., SchweigerJ.. Docetaxel/cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in patients with head and neck carcinoma: a phase II trial. Cancer.2002; 94: 2953–2958.
19.
GlissonB.S., MurphyB.A., FrenetteG., KhuriF.R., ForastiereA.A.Phase II Trial of docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. J Clin Oncol.2002; 20: 1593–1599.
20.
CaponigroF., MassaE., ManzioneL.. Docetaxel and cisplatin in locally advanced or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase II study of the Southern Italy Cooperative Oncology Group (SICOG). Ann Oncol.2001; 12: 199–202.
21.
SpechtL., LarsenS.K., HansenH.S.Phase II study of docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with recurrent or disseminated squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Ann Oncol.2000; 11: 845–849.
22.
SchoffskiP., CatimelG., PlantingA.S.. Docetaxel and cisplatin: an active regimen in patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Results of a phase II study of the EORTC Early Clinical Studies Group. Ann Oncol.1999; 10: 119–22.
23.
ChuaD.T., ShamJ.S., AuG.K.A phase II study of docetaxel and cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oral Oncol.2005; 41: 589–595.
24.
McCarthyJ.S., TannockI.F., DegendorferP., PanzarellaT., FurlanM., SiuL.L.A Phase II trial of docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oral Oncol.2002; 38: 686–690.
25.
BelaniC.P., FossellaF.Elderly subgroup analysis of a randomized phase III study of docetaxel plus platinum combinations versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin for first-line treatment of advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (TAX 326). Cancer.2005; 104: 2766–2774.
26.
TartaroneA., RomanoG., IodiceG.. Cisplatin and weekly docetaxel as first-line therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer a phase II study. Tumori.2005; 91: 131–134.
27.
MoriK., KamiyamaY., KondoT., KanoY., KodamaT.A phase II study of docetaxel and infusional cisplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Chemotherapy.2005; 51: 120–125.
28.
KairaK., TakiseA., MinatoK.. Phase II study of weekly docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Anticancer Drugs.2005; 16: 455–460.
29.
DouillardJ.Y., GervaisR., DabouisG.. Sequential two-line strategy for stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer: docetaxel-cisplatin versus vinorelbine-cisplatin followed by cross-over to single-agent docetaxel or vinorelbine at progression: final resmcL.ts of a randomised phase II study. Ann Oncol.2005; 16: 81–89.
30.
SetoT., TakezakoY., NakamuraH., TakedaK., InoueF., SembaH., EguchiK.Doublet regimen of cisplatin plus docetaxel for second-line chemotherapy after prior therapy with cisplatin plus irinotecan for non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II study. Int J Clin Oncol.2004; 9: 378–382.
31.
FirvidaJ.L., AmenedoM., RodriguezR.. Docetaxel plus fractionated cisplatin is a safe and active schedule as first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: resmcL.ts of a phase II study. Invest New Drugs.2004; 22: 481–487.
32.
MinamiH., OheY., NihoS.. Comparison of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of docetaxel and Cisplatin in elderly and non-elderly patients: why is toxicity increased in elderly patients?J Clin Oncol.2004; 22: 2901–2908.
33.
GeorgoulasV., ArdavanisA., AgelidouA.. Docetaxel versus docetaxel plus cisplatin as front-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a randomized, multicenter phase III trial. J Clin Oncol.2004; 22: 2602–2609.
34.
TsunodaT., KoizumiT., HayasakaM., HiraiK., KoyamaS., TakabayashiY., FujimotoK., KuboK.Phase II study of weekly docetaxel combined with cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol.2004; 54: 173–177.
35.
KubotaK., WatanabeK., KunitohH.. Japanese Taxotere Lung Cancer Study Group. Phase III randomized trial of docetaxel plus cisplatin versus vinde-sine plus cisplatin in patients with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer: the Japanese Taxotere Lung Cancer Study Group. J Clin Oncol.2004; 22: 254–261.
36.
YamamotoN., FukuokaM., NegoroS.I.. Randomised phase II study of docetaxel/cisplatin vs docetaxel/irinotecan in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a West Japan Thoracic Oncology Group Study (WJTOG9803). Br J Cancer.2004; 90: 87–92.
37.
OheY., NihoS., KakinumaR.. A phase II study of cisplatin and docetaxel administered as three consecutive weekly infusions for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in elderly patients. Ann Oncol.2004; 15: 45–50.
38.
HoJ.C., TanE.H., LeongS.S.. Asian-Pacific Collaborative Group. A multicenter phase II study of the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus cisplatin in Asian chemonaive patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Respir Med.2003; 97: 796–803.
39.
FossellaF., PereiraJ.R., von PawelJ.. Randomized, multinational, phase III study of docetaxel plus platinum combinations versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: the TAX 326 study group. J Clin Oncol.2003; 21: 3016–3024.
40.
BetticherD.C., Hsu SchmitzS.F., TotschM.. Mediastinal lymph node clearance after docetaxel-cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy is prognostic of survival in patients with stage IIIA pN2 non-small-cell lung cancer: a multicenter phase II trial. J Clin Oncol.2003; 21: 1752–1759.
41.
KimY.H., KimJ.S., ChoiY.H.. Phase II study of docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in metastatic or unresectable localized non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Clin Oncol.2002; 7: 114–119.
42.
NihoS., OheY., KakinumaR.. Phase II study of docetaxel and cisplatin administered as three consecutive weekly infusions for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer.2002; 35: 209–214.
43.
BelaniC; TAX 326 Study Group. Phase III randomized trial of docetaxel in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin or vinorelbine plus cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: interim analysis. Semin Oncol.2001; 28(3 Suppl 9): 10–14.
44.
Le ChevalierT., BerilleJ., ZalcbergJ.R.. Overview of docetaxel (Taxotere)/cisplatin combination in non-small cell lung cancer. Semin Oncol.1999; 26(3 Suppl 11): 13–18.
45.
Le ChevalierT., MonnierA., DouillardJ.Y.. Docetaxel (Taxotere) plus cisplatin: an active and well-tolerated combination in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Eur J Cancer.1998; 34: 2032–206.
46.
GeorgouliasV., AndroulakisN., DimopoulosA.M.. First-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with docetaxel and cisplatin: a multicenter phase II study. Ann Oncol.1998; 9: 331–334.
47.
ZalcbergJ., MillwardM., BishopJ.. Phase II study of docetaxel and cisplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol.1998; 16: 1948–1953.
48.
DierasV., GuastallaJ.P., FerreroJ.M.. A multicenter phase II study of cisplatin and docetaxel (Taxotere) in the first-line treatment of advanced ovarian cancer: a GINECO study. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol.2004; 53: 489–495.
49.
VaseyP.A., PaulJ., BirtA.. Docetaxel and cisplatin in combination as first-line chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Scottish Gynaecological Cancer Trials Group. J Clin Oncol.1999; 17: 2069–2280.
50.
BamiasA., AravantinosG., DeliveliotisC.. Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group. Docetaxel and cisplatin with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) versus MVAC with G-CSF in advanced urothelial carcinoma: a multicenter, randomized, phase III study from the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol.2004; 22: 220–228.
51.
Garcia del MuroX., MarcuelloE., GumaJ.. Phase II multicentre study of docetaxel plus cisplatin in patients with advanced urothelial cancer. Br J Cancer.2002; 86: 326–330.
52.
DimopoulosM.A., BakoyannisC., GeorgoulasV.. Docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in advanced carcinoma of the urothelium: a multicenter phase II study of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group. Ann Oncol.1999; 10: 1385–1388.
53.
SengelovL., KambyC., LundB., EngelholmS.A.Docetaxel and cisplatin in metastatic urothelial cancer: a phase II study. J Clin Oncol.1998; 16: 3392–7.
54.
GrecoF.A., ErlandJ.B., MorrisseyL.H.. Carcinoma of unknown primary site: phase II trials with docetaxel plus cisplatin or carboplatin. Ann Oncol.2000; 11: 211–215.
55.
Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology v.2.2006. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at: http://www.nccn.org/. Accessed: June 28, 2006.
56.
CohenM.R., SmetzerJ.1999 (2 June). Preparing for a damaging medication error. ISMP Medication Safety Alert! Vol 4 (No. 14).
57.
SavareseD., TaplinM.E., HalabiS., HarsV., KreisW., VogelzegangN.A phase II study of docetaxel (Taxotere), estramustine, and low-dose hydrocortisone in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer: preliminary resmcL.ts of Cancer and Leukemia Group B trial 9780. Semin Oncol.1999; 26(5 suppl17): 39–44.
58.
HeskethP.J., KrisM.G., GrunbergS.M.. Proposal for classifying the acute emetogenicity of cancer chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol.1997; 15: 103–109.
59.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines - Antiemesis. V.2.2006. Available at: http://www.nccn.org/. Accessed 20 June 2006.
60.
KrisM.G., HeskethP.J., SomerfieldM.R.. American Society of Clinical Oncology Guideline for Antiemetics in Oncology: Update 2006. J Clin Oncol.2006; 24: 2932–2947.
61.
Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer. Antiemetic Guidelines. 2005. Available at http://www.mascc.org/. Accessed June 20, 2006.
62.
GelingO., EichlerH.G.Should 5-Hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonists be administered beyond 24 hours after chemotherapy to prevent delayed emesis? Systematic re-evaluation of clinical evidence and drug cost implications. J Clin Oncol.2005; 23: 1289–1294.
63.
TerreyJ.P., AaproM.S.The activity of granisetron in patients who had previously failed Ondansetron antiemetic therapy. Eur J Clin Res.1996; 8: 281–288.
64.
CarmichaelJ., KeizerH.J., CupissolD., MilliezJ., ScheidelP., SchindlerA.E.Use of granisetron in patients refractory to previous treatment with antiemetics. Anticancer Drugs.1998; 9: 381–385.
65.
de WitR., de BoerA.C., vd LindenG.H., StoterG., SparreboomA., VerweijJ.Effective cross-over to granisetron after failure to ondansetron, a randomized double blind study in patients failing ondansetron plus dexamethasone during the first 24 hours following highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Br J Cancer.2001; 19: 85: 1099–1101.
66.
SmithI.E.A dose-finding study of granisetron, a novel antiemetic, in patients receiving cytostatic chemotherapy. The Granisetron Study Group. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol.1993; 119: 350–354.
67.
SoukopM.A dose-finding study of granisetron, a novel antiemetic, in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin. Granisetron Study Group. Support Care Cancer.1994; 2: 177–183.
68.
KrisM.G., GrallaR.J., ClarkR.A.. Incidence, course, and severity of delayed nausea and vomiting following the administration of high-dose cisplatin. J Clin Oncol.1985; 3: 1379–1384.
69.
CornelisonT.L., ReedE.Nephrotoxicity and hydration management for cisplatin, carboplatin, and ormaplatin. Gynecol Oncol.1993; 50: 147–158.
70.
KintzelP.E.Anticancer drug-induced kidney disorders - incidence, prevention and management. Drug Safety.2001; 24: 19–38.
71.
Product Information: Taxotere, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bridgewater, NJ, USA, 2005.
72.
ZanottiK.M., MarkhamM.Prevention and management of antineoplastic-induced Hypersensitivity reactions. Drug Safety.2001; 24: 767–779.
73.
SmithT.J., KhatcheressianJ., LymanG.H.. 2006 Update of Recommendations for the Use of White Blood Cell Growth Factors: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Oncol.2006; 24(19): 3187–3205.
74.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network.NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology - Myeloid Growth Factors. V.1.2006. Available at: http://www.nccn.org/. Accessed June 20, 2006.
75.
LarsonD.L.Treatment of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents. Cancer.1982; 49: 1796–1799.
76.
LarsonD.L.What is the appropriate management of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents?Plast Reconstr Surgery.1985; 75: 397–402.
77.
MullinS., BeckwithM.C., TylerL.S.Prevention and management of antineoplastic extravasation injury. Hosp Pharm.2000; 35: 57–74.
78.
KintzelP.E., DorrR.T.Anticancer drug renal toxicity and elimination: dosing guidelines for altered renal function. Cancer Treat Rev.1995; 21: 33–64.
79.
KingP.D., PerryM.C.Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapy. Oncologist.2001; 6: 162–179.
