Original Research
Treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with imatinib and more recent therapeutic agents has brought a drastic change in the course of this malignancy. Some patients never experience disease progression, and, therefore, may expect long-term survival with such treatment.
Laura Beth Parsons, Kathy Edwards, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, Andy Perez, PharmD, BCOP, Cathy Letton, Carolyn Bondarenka
The use of oral chemotherapy has increased dramatically for many types of cancer. This shift from infusion-based therapy introduces new challenges to ensuring safe prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring.
There have been a multitude of advances in the treatment of metastatic melanoma in the past decade, including approval of newer targeted therapies that often are better tolerated than previously used chemotherapy and immunotherapies.
Shardae Young, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Oncology, VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System, Harlingen,TX, discusses the clinical significance of her study, “Evaluating the Effects of a 14-Day Oral Chemotherapy Dispensing Protocol on Adherence, Toxicity, and Cost.”
Dawna D Allore, RN, Elizabeth A. Koselke, PharmD, Shawna L Kraft, PharmD, BCOP, Emily R Mackler, PharmD, BCOP, Bernard L Marini, PharmD, Suzette C Walker, DNP, FNP-BC, AOCNP
There are numerous opportunities to improve quality in the prescribing and monitoring of patients receiving oral anticancer medications.
Emily R. Mackler, PharmD, BCOP, Oncology Clinical Pharmacist, Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, discusses the clinical significance of her study, “Implementation of and Satisfaction with an Outpatient Oral Anticancer Therapy Program.”
Oral chemotherapy utilization and availability have increased in the past several years. Of the new oncologic agents in development, 30% to 35% are oral preparations.1 With the increasing development of new oral anticancer therapies, there have also been growing concerns regarding adherence, toxicity, and cost.
Review this study that aims to quantify the use of oral anticancer agents and analyze the incidence of various drug-related problems among patients treated with these medications.
Ivyruth W Andreica, BSN, PharmD, Taylor Ortiz, MD, Erin Pfeifer, PharmD, BCPS, Marina Rozov, PharmD, BCPS, Anastasiya Shakurova, PharmD, Erica Tavares, PharmD, BCPS
Trace the overall management of a fluorouracil overdose from initial exposure, through hospitalization and posthospitalization, to recovery.
With advances in technique and supportive care, bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients have a longer life expectancy now than when BMT was first performed more than 40 years ago. Despite much higher mortality rates than the general population, up to 80% of BMT patients who survive 5 years posttransplantation will be alive 20 years posttransplantation. However, patients who live longer can be at higher risk for complications, in part because of changes in their body’s immune system. One of these concerns is the loss of immunity that was previously achieved through vaccination. To regain immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, mumps, hepatitis, and diphtheria, patients need to be revaccinated following BMT.