The complexity of cancer chemotherapy requires that pharmacists be familiar with the complicated regimens and highly toxic agents used. This column reviews various issues related to preparing, dispensing, and administering antineoplastic therapy and to the agents, commercially available and investigational, used to treat malignant diseases.
ScheithauerW., SchüllB., Ulrich-PurH.Biweekly high-dose gemcitabine alone or in combination with capecitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a randomized phase II trial. Ann Oncol.2003; 14(1): 97–104.
3.
StathopoulosG.P., SyrigosK., PolyzosA.Front-line treatment of inoperable or metastatic pancreatic cancer with gemcitabine and capecitabine: an inter-group, multicenter, phase II study. Ann Oncol.2004; 15(2): 224–229.
4.
ParkB.B., ParkJ.O., LeeH.R.A phase II trial of gemcitabine plus capecitabine for patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol.2007; 60(4): 489–494.
5.
HerrmannR., BodokyG., RuhstallerT.; Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research; Central European Cooperative Oncology Group. Gemcitabine plus capecitabine compared with gemcitabine alone in advanced pancreatic cancer: a randomized, multicenter, phase III trial of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research and the Central European Cooperative Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol.2007; 25(16): 2212–2217.
6.
BernhardJ., DietrichD., ScheithauerW.; Central European Cooperative Oncology Group. Clinical benefit and quality of life in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine plus capecitabine versus gemcitabine alone: a randomized multicenter phase III clinical trial—SAKK 44/00-CECO G/PAN.1.3.001. J Clin Oncol.2008; 26(22): 3695–3701.
7.
KnoxJ.J., HedleyD., OzaA.Combining gemcitabine and capecitabine in patients with advanced biliary cancer: a phase II trial. J Clin Oncol.2005; 23(10): 2332–2338.
8.
ChoJ.Y., PaikY.H., ChangY.S.Capecitabine combined with gemcitabine (CapGem) as first-line treatment in patients with advanced/metastatic biliary tract carcinoma. Cancer.2005; 104(12): 2753–2758.
9.
RiechelmannR.P., TownsleyC.A., ChinS.N., PondG.R., KnoxJ.J.Expanded phase II trial of gemcitabine and capecitabine for advanced biliary cancer. Cancer.2007; 110(6): 1307–1312.
10.
KoeberleD., SalettiP., BornerM.; Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research. Patient-reported outcomes of patients with advanced biliary tract cancers receiving gemcitabine plus capecitabine: a multicenter, phase II trial of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research. J Clin Oncol.2008; 26(22): 3702–3708.
11.
WatersJ.S., MossC., PyleL.Phase II clinical trial of capecitabine and gemcitabine chemotherapy in patients with metastatic renal carcinoma. Br J Cancer.2004; 91(10): 1763–1768.
12.
StadlerW.M., HalabiS., RiniB.; Cancer and Leukemia Group B. A phase II study of gemcitabine and capecitabine in metastatic renal cancer: a report of Cancer and Leukemia Group B protocol 90008. Cancer.2006; 107(6): 1273–1279.
13.
TannirN.M., ThallP.F., NgC.S.A phase II trial of gemcitabine plus capecitabine for metastatic renal cell cancer previously treated with immunotherapy and targeted agents. J Urol.2008; 180(3): 867–872.
14.
ChoJ.Y., NamJ.S., ParkM.S.A phase II study of capecitabine combined with gemcitabine in patients with advanced gallbladder carcinoma. Yonsei Med J.2005; 46(4): 526–531.
15.
IyerR.V., GibbsJ., KuvshinoffB.A phase II study of gemcitabine and capecitabine in advanced cholangiocarcinoma and carcinoma of the gallbladder: a single-institution prospective study. Ann Surg Oncol.2007; 14(11): 3202–3209.
16.
AndresR., MayordomoJ.I., LaraR.Gemcitabine/capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer pretreated with anthracyclines and taxanes. Clin Breast Cancer.2005; 6(2): 158–162.
17.
BenekliM., YildizR., UnerA.Gemcitabine plus capecitabine combination in metastatic breast cancer patients previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes. Oncology.2007; 72(5-6): 308–313.
18.
RodneyA., DieringerP., MathewP., JonaschE., TannirN., PagliaroL.C.Phase II study of capecitabine combined with gemcitabine in the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer previously treated with taxanes. Cancer.2006; 106(10): 2143–2147.
TemperoM., PlunkettW., Ruiz Van HaperenV.Randomized phase II comparison of dose-intense gemcitabine: thirty-minute infusion and fixed dose rate infusion in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J Clin Oncol.2003; 21(18): 3402–3408.
23.
HeskethP.J., KrisM.G., GrunbergS.M.Proposal for classifying the acute emetogenicity of cancer chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol.1997; 15(1): 103–109.
KrisM.G., HeskethP.J., SomerfieldM.R.; American Society of Clinical Oncology. American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline for antiemetics in oncology: update 2006. J Clin Oncol.2006; 24(18): 2932–2947.
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(6): 1289–1294.
28.
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.
29.
CarmichaelJ., KeizerH.J., CupissolD., MilliezJ., ScheidelP., SchindlerA.E.Use of granisetron in patients refractory to previous treatment with antiemetics. Anticancer Drugs.1998; 9(5): 381–385.
30.
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(8): 1099–1101.
31.
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(6): 350–354.
32.
SoukopM.A dose-finding study of granisetron, a novel antiemetic, in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin. Granisetron Study Group. Support Care Cancer.1994; 2(3): 177–183.
ZanottiK.M., MarkhamM.Prevention and management of antineoplastic-induced hypersensitivity reactions. Drug Safety.2001; 24(10): 767–779.
35.
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.
LarsonD.L.Treatment of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents. Cancer.1982; 49(9): 1796–1799.
38.
LarsonD.L.What is the appropriate management of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents?Plast Reconstr Surgery.1985; 75(3): 397–402.
39.
MullinS., BeckwithM.C., TylerL.S.Prevention and management of antineoplastic extravasation injury. Hosp Pharm.2000; 35(1): 57–74.
40.
BensonA.B., AjaniJ.A., CatalanoR.B.Recommended guidelines for the treatment of cancer treatment-induced diarrhea. J Clin Oncol.2004; 22(14): 2918–2926.
41.
KintzelP.E., DorrR.T.Anticancer drug renal toxicity and elimination: dosing guidelines for altered renal function. Cancer Treat Rev.1995; 21(1): 33–64.
42.
AronoffG.R., BennettW.M., BernsJ.S.Drug Prescribing in Renal Failure.5th ed.Philadelphia, PA: American College of Physicians; 2007.
43.
DelalogeS., LlombartA., Di PalmaM.Gemcitabine in patients with solid tumors and renal impairment. Am J Clin Oncol.2004; 27(3): 289–293.
44.
KingP.D., PerryM.C.Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapy. Oncologist.2001; 6(2): 162–176.
45.
FloydJ., MirzaI., Sachs, PerryM.C.Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapy. Semin Oncol.2006; 33(1): 50–67.
46.
VenookA.P., EgorinM.J., RosnerG.L.Phase I and pharmacokinetic trial of gemcitabine in patients with hepatic or renal dysfunction: Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9565. J Clin Oncol.2000; 18(14): 2780–2787.
