Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Sep 2020
Parecoxib as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of refractory non-surgical cancer pain.
Evidence for the use of short-term daily parenteral parecoxib for refractory or uncontrolled non-surgical cancer pain is limited. This study aimed to characterise the real-world off-label use and report on clinical experiences in an Australian cancer cohort. ⋯ In this real-world study, parecoxib was utilised as adjunctive therapy in a select patient cohort to contribute to reduced pain scores with no new safety signals. Prospective randomised studies in larger cohorts would improve understanding of the effects of parecoxib.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Sep 2020
Measurement of the leak rate of masks used for anticancer drug handling using a mask fitting tester.
Exposure to inhalation of anticancer drugs is frequent in anticancer drug handling. Using an activated carbon mask with the ability to remove particulates and vapors of anticancer drugs may be effective. Mask fitting performance is important, because low fitting performance leads to inhalation via bypassing the mask filter (leak). This study evaluated the leak rate of multiple-shaped masks. ⋯ A difference was found in the leak rate between masks used in anticancer drug handling. Based on the low leak rate, the cup-type activated carbon mask was thought to be effective.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Aug 2020
Is the duration of castration resistance predictive for sequential treatment responses in the metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer setting?
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the primary therapeutic approach for treatment of prostate cancer. However,nearly all patients develop the castration-resistant disease . We evaluated real-world data with abiraterone and enzalutamide treatment. By this data, we aimed to analyze whether that prior short response to ADT could predict response to subsequent therapy with androgen receptor axis targeted agent (ARATA). ⋯ TTCR is also a predictor for PFS of the patients who were treated ARATA both whole cohort and post-docetaxel.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jul 2020
Case ReportsPembrolizumab-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Pembrolizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting the receptor programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), with anti-tumour activity demonstrated for many malignancies. Such immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with many immune-related adverse events including rash, colitis, hepatitis, pneumonitis, endocrinopathy and, rarely, haematological adverse events, including immune-related thrombocytopenia. ⋯ Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disorder caused by an inhibitory autoantibody against ADAMTS-13. While most cases of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura are idiopathic, certain conditions (e.g. bacterial infection, autoimmune disorders, malignancies) and medications are associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Other potential causes were eliminated in our patient. As acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disorder, pembrolizumab, given its unique mechanism of action and association with immune-related adverse events, is believed to be implicated in the development of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. This case is one of only two linking anti-PD-1 therapy to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura development (the other occurring in a patient on nivolumab plus ipilimumab). Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is life-threatening and clinicians are advised to be aware of its possible occurrence in immune checkpoint inhibitor-treated patients.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jul 2020
Case ReportsClinical course of COVID-19 infection in elderly patient with melanoma on nivolumab.
Outbreak of the new type coronavirus infection, known as coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19), has begun in December 2019, in Wuhan, China. As of today, 3 April 2020, 972,640 people affected and 50,325 people died from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2. There is not any standard treatment for coronavirus infection 2019; however, there are promising data for hydroxychloroquine and some anti-retroviral drugs. ⋯ In contrast to her older age, comorbidities, and cancer diagnosis, she was in a good condition, and there was also no pneumonia finding. We think that this good clinical course of coronavirus infection 2019 infection may be related to blockade of PD-1/PDL-1 pathway with nivolumab. It is impossible to say that blockade of PD-1/PDL-1pathway is a treatment option for COVID-19; however, we want to share our experience.