Cardiotoxicity associated with bortezomib: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating the prevalence of cardiotoxicity associated with bortezomib are limited. We proposed this study to evaluate the prevalence of cardiotoxicity associated with bortezomib and its relation to multiple myeloma and other malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, chart review study. Subjects who received bortezomib at the HealthEast care system for various oncologic conditions were evaluated after obtaining IRB approval. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients received bortezomib for various malignancies. Nine out of 64 (14%) patients developed cardiotoxicity during treatment with bortezomib, and the majority of these patients had a prior cardiac history and other cardiac risk factors. On further review, we did not find any significant causal relationship between these cardiac events and bortezomib. CONCLUSION: Cardiotoxicity is probably not related to bortezomib, even though there are some case reports suggestive of cardiac events related to bortezomib. Our findings need to be confirmed in multicenter, prospective studies.

Oral cancer chemotherapy adherence and adherence assessment tools: a report from North Central Cancer Group Trial N0747 and a systematic review of the literature.

Oncologists are now prescribing more oral chemotherapy than ever before, thus placing the onus for taking the right dose at the right time under the right circumstances directly on the patient. This study was undertaken to understand emerging adherence issues and to explore available adherence assessment tools. This two-part study (1) examined N0747, a randomized phase II trial that tested the oral agents, sunitinib and capecitabine, in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer from an adherence standpoint, and (2) conducted a systematic review to compile and assess adherence tools that can be used in future clinical trials. First, in N0747, patients were assigned to sunitinib and capecitabine versus capecitabine; 53 chemotherapy cycles were prescribed to this 12-patient cohort. Nearly all patients denoted that they "always or almost always" took their pills as prescribed, and two patients who reported lack of full adherence suffered from grade 3+ adverse events. Surprisingly, however, over 14 cycles, 9 patients reported grade 3+ toxicity but checked "always or almost always" to describe their adherence. No relationships were observed between adherence and cancer outcomes. Secondly, 21 articles identified the following adherence tools: (1) healthcare providers' interviews, (2) patient-reported adherence with diaries/calendars, (3) patient-completed adherence scales, (4) medication event monitoring, (5) automated voice response, (6) drug/metabolite assays, and (7) prescription databases. Of note, only the automated voice response seems capable of real-time detection of over-adherence, as observed in N0747. Oral chemotherapy adherence should be further studied, particularly from the standpoint of over-adherence.

Capecitabine for skin cancer prevention in solid organ transplant recipients.

Skin cancers are the most common malignancies in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR). A case-observational, retrospective study was performed to determine the efficacy of low-dose capecitabine in the secondary prevention of skin cancers in SOTRs treated at a single institution. SOTRs with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and/or basal cell carcinoma (BCC) were given low-dose capecitabine 1 g/m(2) daily, days 1-14 of a 21-d treatment cycle. Skin surveillance was performed by dermatologists every 1-3 months. Cumulative incidence rates of SCC, BCC, and actinic keratosis (AK) before and after treatment were scored and statistically compared for each patient using a non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test. Fifteen patients (13 men and two women) with a median age of 57 yr (range 40-73) were treated. Incidence rates as measured by mean number of events per month declined by 0.33 for SCC, 0.04 for BCC, and 2.45 for AK (p < 0.05). The most common grade 3 and 4 toxicities included fatigue (40.0%), hand-foot syndrome (20.0%), and diarrhea (20.0%). The discontinuation rate at one yr was approximately 33.3%. We conclude that oral capecitabine significantly decreases the incidence rates of recurrent SCC, BCC, and AK in SOTRs and is associated with manageable toxicity.

Lung cancer and lung transplantation: a review.

With the increase in the number of lung transplants, it is expected that there will be a corresponding increase in the number of lung cancers reported in these patients. Longevity of the transplant recipients, lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a history of smoking, and the increasing age of the lung donors make lung cancer more likely. Nodules and masses seen in chest imaging in lung transplant patients call for work up until a final diagnosis is achieved because there is a high likelihood of a serious infection or malignancy. The presence of a native lung is a major risk factor for lung cancer occurring in the transplant setting. Lung cancer of donor origin is rare. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma confined to one lung can potentially be treated by transplanting the affected lung. Treatment for patients with lung cancer in the lung transplant setting has to be individualized because of the complexity of their medical problems and multiple medications. Attention needs to be focused on detecting lung cancer early in these patients to achieve a favorable outcome.