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.
RousselM., Lauwers-CancesV., RobillardN.Front-line transplantation program with lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone combination as induction and consolidation followed by lenalidomide maintenance in patients with multiple myeloma: A phase II study by the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome. J Clin Oncol.2014; 32(25): 2712–2717.
2.
RichardsonP.G., XieW., JagannathS.A phase 2 trial of lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed and relapsed/refractory myeloma. Blood.2014; 123(10): 1461–1469.
3.
Jimenez-ZepedaV.H., ReeceD.E., TrudelS.Lenalidomide (revlimid), bortezomib (velcade) and dexamethasone for heavily pretreated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Leuk Lymphoma.2012; 54(3): 555–560.
4.
KumarS., FlinnI., RichardsonP.G.Randomized, multicenter, phase 2 study (EVOLUTION) of combinations of bortezomib, dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, and lenalidomide in previously untreated multiple myeloma. Blood.2012; 119(19): 4375–4382.
5.
DimopoulosM.A., KastritisE., ChristoulasD.Treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with lenalidomide and dexamethasone with or without bortezomib: Prospective evaluation of the impact of cytogenetic abnormalities and of previous therapies. Leukemia.2010; 24(10): 1769–1778.
6.
RichardsonP.G., WellerE., LonialS.Lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone combination therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Blood.2010; 116(5): 679–686.
7.
JacobusS.J., RajkumarS.V., WeissM.Randomized phase III trial of consolidation therapy with bortezomib-lenalidomide-dexamthasone (VRd) vs bortezomib-dexamethasone (Vd) for patients with multiple myeloma who have completed a dexamethasone based induction regimen [letter]. Blood.2016. http://www.nature.com/bcj/journal/v6/n7/full/bcj201655a.html. Accessed August 1, 2016.
8.
DurieB., HoeringA., RajkumarS.V.Bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone vs. lenalidomide and dexamethasone in Patients (pts) with previously untreated multiple myeloma without an intent for immediate autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT): Results of the randomized phase III trial SWOG S0777. Blood.2015 (abstract 25). http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/126/23/25?sso-checked=true. Accessed August 1, 2016.
BaschE., PrestrudA.A., HeskethP.J.Antiemetics: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Oncol.2011; 29(31): 4189–4198.
PalumboA., RajkumarS.V., DimopoulosM.A.Prevention of thalidomide- and lenalidomide-associated thrombosis in myeloma. Leukemia.2008; 22(2): 414–423.
15.
PalumboA., CavoM., BringhenS.Aspirin, warfarin, or enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis in patients with multiple myeloma treated with thalidomide: A phase III, open-label, randomized trial. J Clin Oncol.2011; 29(8): 986–993.
ChenN., LauH., KongL.Pharmacokinetics of lenalidomide in subjects with various degrees of renal impairment and in subjects on hemodialysis. J Clin Pharmacol.2007; 47(12) 1466–1475.
19.
JagannathS., BarlogieB., BerensonJ.R.Bortezomib in recurrent and/or refractory multiple myeloma: Initial clinical experience in patients with impaired renal function. Cancer.2005; 103(6): 1195–1200.
20.
AronoffG.R., BennettW.M., BernsJ.S.Drug Prescribing in Renal Failure.5th ed.Philadelphia: American College of Physicians; 2007.
21.
LoRussoP.M., VenkatakrishnanK., RamanathanR.K.Pharmocokinetics and safety of bortezomib in patients with advances malignancies and varying degrees of liver dysfunction: phase I NCI Organ Dysfunction Working Group Study NCI-6432. Clin Cancer Res.2012; 18(10): 2954–2963.
RichardsonP.G., BriembergH., JagannathS.Frequency, characteristics, and reversibility of peripheral neuropathy during treatment of advanced multiple myeloma with bortezomib. J Clin Oncol.2006; 24(19): 3113–3120.
24.
MoreauP., PylypenkoH., GrosickiS.Subcuatenous versus intravenous administration of bortezomib in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma: A randomized, phase 3, non-inferiority study. Lancet Oncol.2011; 12(5): 431–440.
