Assessing the ability of the Cancer and Aging Research Group tool to predict chemotherapy toxicity in older Japanese patients: A prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: The Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) prediction tool was designed in the United States to predict grade ≥ 3 chemotherapy-related adverse events (CRAE) in older patients. However, its usefulness among Japanese people, who have different sensitivities to anticancer drugs and life expectancy, remains unknown. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the utility of the CARG tool for predicting severe CRAE in older Japanese patients with cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with solid tumors aged 65 years and older who commenced anticancer drug regimens from April 2018 to October 2020 were divided into three groups (low, medium, and high-risk) based on their CARG risk scores. Toxicity was prospectively observed by a pharmacist. The primary objective was to evaluate the correlation between the incidence of grade ≥ 3 CRAE and the CARG risk score. The secondary objective was to evaluate hematological and non-hematological toxicities. CRAE incidence was compared among the three groups using a closed testing procedure: (1) Cochran-Armitage test for trend and (2) chi-square test for paired comparison. RESULTS: The patients (N = 165) had a median age of 71 years (range: 65-89 years). CRAE in patients divided into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups, based on CARG risk scores, were 39%, 55%, and 82%, respectively (low vs high; p < 0.001, medium vs high; p < 0.01). The incidence of severe hematologic toxicity was 37%, 35%, and 50% in the low-, medium-, and high-risk groups, respectively; the incidence of severe non-hematologic toxicity was 15%, 36%, and 65%, respectively (low vs medium; p < 0.01, low vs high; p < 0.001, and medium vs high; p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first prospective observational study to validate the CARG prediction tool in older Japanese patients with cancer. The CARG risk score may be effective in predicting the development of non-hematologic toxicities. These results should be considered when administering chemotherapy to older Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors.

[A Case of Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy without Exacerbation].

Albumin-bound paclitaxel(nab-PTX)-associated neuropathy decreases the quality of life of cancer patients and leads to dose modification, discontinuation of chemotherapy, and occasionally dose-limiting toxicity. In the present case study, a 92- year-old female patient with peritoneal cancer of carcinomatous peritonitis and carcinomatous ascites was treated with carboplatin plus nab-PTX every 4 weeks as first-line chemotherapy, and a good response was achieved following 4 cycles of this regimen. However, the patient developed Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy and stopped the therapy. As a result, the peripheral neuropathy gradually improved. After 1 year, ascites appeared, and tumor marker(CA125)levels increased. We tried an 8-h infusion of nab-PTX to avoid peripheralneuropathy. After 4 cycles, a positive response was achieved without exacerbation of the peripheralneuropathy. Administering nab-PTX over shorter periods of time has generally led to increased peripheral neuropathy. The severity of peripheralneuropathy can be reduced with a longer infusion time.