Article Text

Download PDFPDF
CP-091 Dose adjustment in cancer patients with renal or hepatic impairment
  1. R Vázquez Sánchez,
  2. L López Esteban,
  3. M Martínez Nuñez,
  4. R Diez Fernandez,
  5. T Molina García
  1. Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Pharmacy, Getafe, Spain

Abstract

Background Treatment outcomes and tolerability are not easily predicted in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, especially in those patients with renal or hepatic dysfunction, where dose modifications become necessary.

Purpose To evaluate drug dose modifications made in cancer patients with renal and hepatic impairment receiving antineoplastic treatment.

Material and methods A review of several dose modification protocols was previously made (Cancer Care Ontario, UpToDate and the EMA product information).

A prospective, observational study was done (March 2014–June 2014). All adult cancer patients being treated with antineoplastic treatment (chemotherapy, hormonal or biological therapy) were included.

Gender, age, tumour type, protocol, drugs given, dose, body surface area and liver (bilirubin and transaminases) and renal (creatinine clearance) function tests were recorded for each course of treatment.

Prescribed dose and recommended dose modification according to protocols were also analysed.

Results 370 patients were evaluated (51.6% male; mean age 65.2 years).

1.764 blood tests were reviewed. Liver and renal impairment was observed in 37.7% of blood tests (19% liver impairment only, 13% renal impairment only and 6% both).

According to protocols, only 10.2% of these altered blood tests would make dose modifications necessary. But of these patients, the dose was modified in only 53.7% of the administrations and protocols dosage recommendations were followed in just 38.8% of these dose modifications.

Conclusion The rate of protocol-guided dose modifications of antineoplastic treatment in patients with renal and hepatic impairment was low.

A dose modifications protocol, based on published guidelines and agreed with the departments involved, should be implemented in all units administering treatment to cancer patients.

Other considerations apart from laboratory tests, such as tolerability and tumour response, should be taken into account.

References and/or Acknowledgements No conflict of interest.

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.