The complexity of cancer chemotherapy requires pharmacists be familiar with the complicated regimens and highly toxic agents used. This column reviews various issues related to preparation, dispensing, and administration of antineoplastic therapy, and the 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.
HoriguchiJ, OyamaT, KoibuchiY, Neoadjuvant weekly paclitaxel with and without trastuzumab in locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Anticancer Res. 2009;29:517–524.
2.
FountzilasG, TsavdaridisD, Kalogera-FountzilaA,Weekly paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy and trastuzumab in patients with advanced breast cancer. Ann Oncol. 2001;12:1545–1551.
3.
GaspariniG, GionM, MarianiL, Randomized phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel alone versus trastuzumab plus weekly paclitaxel as firstline therapy of patients with HER-2 positive advanced breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007;101:355–364.
4.
JankuF, PribylovaO, ZimovjanovaM, 4-years of weekly trastuzumab and paclitaxel in the treatment of women with HER2/neu overespressing advanced breast cancer: Single institution prospective study. Bull Cancer. 2004;91(10):E279–283.
5.
SlamonDJ, Leyland-JonesB, ShakS, Use of chemotherapy plus a monoclonal antibody against HER2 for metastatic breast cancer that overexpresses HER2. N Engl J Med. 2001;344(11):783–792.
6.
SeidmanAD, FornierMN, EstevaFJ, Weekly trastuzumab and paclitaxel therapy for metastatic breastcancer with analysis of efficacy by HER2 immunophenotype and gene amplification. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19(10):2587–2595.
7.
Leyland-JonesB, GelmonK, AyoubJ, Pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of trastuzumab administered every three weeks in combinationwith paclitaxel. J Clin Oncol. 2003;21(21):3965–3871.
8.
RobertN, Leyland-JonesB, AsmarL, Randomized phase III study of trastuzumab, paclitaxel and carboplatin compared with trastuzumab and paclitaxel in women with HER-2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24(18):2786–2792.
9.
GoriS, ColozzaM, MosconiAM, Phase II study of weekly paclitaxel and trastuzumab in anthracycline-and taxane-pretreated patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. Br J Cancer. 2004;90(1):36–40.
10.
SeidmanAD, BerryD, CirrincioneC, Randomized phase III trial of weekly compared with every-3-weeks paclitaxel for metastatic breast cancer, with trastuzumab for all HER-2 overexpressors and random assignment to trastuzumab or not in HER-2 nonoverexpressors: Final results of Cancer and Leukemia Group B Protocol 9840. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(10):1642–1649.
11.
JohnM, HinkeA, StauchM, Weekly paclitaxel plus trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer pretreated with anthracyclines – a phase II multipractice study. BMC Cancer. 2012;12:165.
12.
RomondE, PerezE, BryantJ, Trastuzumab plus adjuvant chemotherapy for operable HER2-positive breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(16):1673–1684.
BaschE, PrestrudAA, HeskethPJ, American Society of Clinical Oncology Guideline for Antiemetics in Oncology: Update 2011. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29(31):4189–4198.
GelingO, EichlerHG. 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.
21.
TerreyJP, AaproMS. The activity of granisetron in patients who had previously failed ondansetron antiemetic therapy. Eur J Clin Res. 1996; 8:281–288.
22.
CarmichaelJ, KeizerHJ, CupissolD, MilliezJ, ScheidelP, SchindlerAE. Use of granisetron in patients refractory to previous treatment with antiemetics. Anticancer Drugs. 1998;9(5):381–385.
23.
de WitR, de BoerAC, vd LindenGH, 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.
24.
SmithIE. 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.
25.
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.
SmithTJ, KhatcheressianJ, LymanGH, 2006Update 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.
30.
BoyiadzisMM, LebowitzPF, FrameJN, FojoT.Hematology-Oncology Therapy. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2007:570–578.
31.
AronoffGR, BennettWM, BernsJS, Drug Prescribing in Renal Failure. 5th ed. Philadelphia: American College of Physicians; 2007.
32.
KingPD, PerryMC. Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapy. Oncologist. 2001;6(2):162–176.
33.
FloydJ, MirzaI, SachsB, PerryMC. Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapy. Semin Oncol. 2006;33(1):50–67.
