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.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
DiehlV.Dose-escalation study for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. The German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG). Ann Hematol.1993; 66(3): 139–140.
2.
DiehlV., SieberM., RufferU.BEACOPP: an intensified chemotherapy regimen in advanced Hodgkin's disease. The German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group. Ann Oncol.1997; 8(2): 143–148.
3.
DiehlV., FranklinJ., HasencleverD.BEACOPP, a new dose-escalated and accelerated regimen, is at least as effective as COPP/ABVD in patients with advancedstage Hodgkin's lymphoma: interim report from a trial of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group. J Clin Oncol.1998; 16(12): 3810–3821.
4.
DiehlV., FranklinJ., HasencleverD.BEACOPP: a new regimen for advanced Hodgkin's disease. German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group. Ann Oncol.1998; 9(Suppl 5): S67–S71.
5.
EngelC., LoefflerM., SchmitzS.Acute hematologic toxicity and practicability of dose-intensified BEACOPP chemotherapy for advanced stage Hodgkin's disease. German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group (GHSG). Ann Oncol.2000; 11(9): 1105–1114.
6.
DiehlV., FranklinJ., PfreundschuhM.Standard and increased-dose BEACOPP chemotherapy compared with COPP-ABVD for advanced Hodgkin's disease [published correction appears in N Engl J Med. 2005; 353(7): 744]. N Engl J Med.2003; 348(24): 2386–2395.
7.
HartmannP., RehwaldU., SalzbergerB.BEACOPP therapeutic regimen for patients with Hodgkin's disease and HIV infection. Ann Oncol.2003; 14(10): 1562–1569.
8.
BallovaV., RüfferJ.U., HaverkampH.A prospectively randomized trial carried out by the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) for elderly patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease comparing BEACOPP baseline and COPP-ABVD (study HD9 elderly). Ann Oncol.2005; 16(1): 124–131.
9.
NiitsuN., OkamotoM., TomitaN.Multicentre phase II study of the baseline BEACOPP regimen for patients with advancedstage Hodgkin's lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma.2006; 47(9): 1908–1914.
10.
EichH.T., GossmannA., EngertA.A contribution to solve the problem of the need for consolidative radiotherapy after intensive chemotherapy in advanced stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma—analysis of a quality control program initiated by the radiotherapy reference center of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.2007; 69(4): 1187–1192.
11.
FedericoM., LuminariS., IannittoE.ABVD compared with BEACOPP compared with CEC for the initial treatment of patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma: results from the HD2000 Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dei Linfomi Trial. J Clin Oncol.2009; 27(5): 805–811.
12.
DannE.J., Bar-ShalomR., TamirA.Risk-adapted BEACOPP regimen can reduce the cumulative dose of chemotherapy for standard and high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma with no impairment of outcome. Blood.2007; 109(3): 905–909.
13.
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. Intergroup study (EORTC protocol 20012): BEACOPP (4 cycles escalated + 4 cycles baseline) versus ABVD (8 cycles) in stage III & IV Hodgkin's lymphoma. Version 2.2. Hematologie Groningen Web site. http://www.hematologiegroningen.nl/protocollen/docs/Protocol-20012.pdf. Published September 23, 2004. Accessed April 30, 2009.
DiehlV., BehringerK.Could BEACOPP be the new standard for the treatment of advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL)?Cancer Invest.2006; 24(7): 713–717.
17.
LoefflerM., HasencleverD., DiehlV.Model based development of the BEACOPP regimen for advanced stage Hodgkin's disease. German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group. Ann Oncol.1998; 9(Suppl 5): S73–S78.
18.
TeschH., DiehlV., LathanB.Moderate dose escalation for advanced stage Hodgkin's disease using the bleomycin, etoposide, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone scheme and adjuvant radiotherapy: a study of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group. Blood.1998; 92(12): 4560–4567.
19.
EconomopoulosT., FountzilasG., DimopoulosM.A.Treatment of intermediate and advanced stage Hodgkin's disease with modified baseline BEACOPP regimen: a Hellenic Co-operative Oncology Group Study. Eur J Haematol.2003; 71(4): 257–262.
20.
KellyK.M., HutchinsonR.J., SpostoR.Feasibility of upfront dose-intensive chemotherapy in children with advancedstage Hodgkin's lymphoma: preliminary results from the Children's Cancer Group Study CCG-59704. Ann Oncol.2002; 13(Suppl 1): 107–111.
21.
SieberM., BredenfeldH., JostingA.14-day variant of the bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone regimen in advancedstage Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of a pilot study of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group. J Clin Oncol.2003; 21(9): 1734–1739.
22.
EngertA., BredenfeldH., DöhnerH.Pegfilgrastim support for full delivery of BEACOPP-14 chemotherapy for patients with high-risk Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of a phase II study. Haematologica.2006; 91(4): 546–549.
HehnS.T., MillerT.P.What is the treatment of choice for advancedstage Hodgkin's lymphoma: ABVD, Stanford V, or BEACOPP?Curr Hematol Rep.2004; 3(1): 17–26.
26.
ConnorsJ.M.ABVD, the Stanford V regimen, and BEACOPP for Hodgkin's lymphoma: what should an oncologist do?Clin Lymphoma.2005; 6(1): 50–51.
27.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines in oncology—Hodgkin disease/lymphoma. V.2.2009. National Comprehensive Cancer Network Web site. http://www.nccn.org. Accessed April 30, 2009.
28.
TrisselL., ZhangY., CohenM.The stability of diluted vincristine sulfate used as a deterrent to inadvertent intrathecal injection. Hosp Pharm.2001; 36(7): 740–745.
29.
HeskethP.J., KrisM.G., GrunbergS.M.Proposal for classifying the acute emetogenicity of cancer chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol.1997; 15(1): 103–109.
30.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines in oncology—antiemesis. V.3.2009. National Comprehensive Cancer Network Web site. http://www.nccn.org. Accessed April 30, 2009.
31.
KrisM.G., HeskethP.J., SomerfieldM.R.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.
34.
MartinM.The severity and pattern of emesis following different cytotoxic agents. Oncology.1996; 53(Suppl 1): 26–31.
35.
BeckT.M.The pattern of emesis following high-dose cyclophosphamide and the anti-emetic efficacy of ondansetron. Anticancer Drugs.1995; 6(2): 237–242.
36.
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.
37.
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.
38.
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; 85(8): 1099–1101.
39.
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.
40.
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.
41.
StillwellT.J., BensonR.C.Jr. Cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. A review of 100 patients. Cancer.1988; 61(3): 451–457.
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.
44.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines in oncology—myeloid growth factors. V.1.2009. National Comprehensive Cancer Network Web site. http://www.nccn.org. Accessed April 30, 2009.
45.
LarsonD.L.Treatment of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents. Cancer.1982; 49(9): 1796–1799.
46.
LarsonD.L.What is the appropriate management of tissue extravasation by antitumor agents?Plast Reconstr Surg.1985; 75(3): 397–402.
47.
MullinS., BeckwithM.C., TylerL.S.Prevention and management of antineoplastic extravasation injury. Hosp Pharm.2000; 35(1): 57–74.
48.
AronoffG.R., ed. Drug Prescribing in Renal Failure: Dosing Guidelines for Adults.5th ed.Philadelphia, PA: American College of Physicians; 2007.
49.
KintzelP.E., DorrR.T.Anticancer drug renal toxicity and elimination: dosing guidelines for altered renal function. Cancer Treat Rev.1995; 21(1): 33–64.
50.
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.
51.
KingP.D., PerryM.C.Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapy. Oncologist.2001; 6(2): 162–176.
52.
FloydJ., MirzaI., Sachs, PerryM.C.Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapy. Semin Oncol.2006; 33(1): 50–67.
