Clarithromycin co-administration does not increase irinotecan (CPT-11) toxicity in colorectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Irinotecan (CPT-11) is used to treat advanced colorectal cancer. The drug is activated by carboxylesterases and rendered inactive by CYP3A4. Recently, the efficacy of combining CPT-11 and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents was confirmed in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Clarithromycin (CAM) is a strong CYP3A inhibitor often used to prevent rash associated with anti-EGFR therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of increased neutropenia and diarrhea in combining CPT-11 and CAM. METHODS: Retrospective analyses were conducted at Osaka National Hospital (Osaka, Japan) on the records of colorectal cancer patients treated with a CPT-11-containing regimen between November 2006 and January 2014. The incidence of neutropenia and diarrhea was compared between patients who received CPT-11 and CAM and patients who received CPT-11 without CAM. RESULTS: One-hundred and twenty-eight patients were included in this study, of whom 21 were concomitantly treated with CAM and 107 were not. There was no difference in the incidence of grade 3-4 neutropenia between the CAM co-administration group (10%) and the non-CAM group (16%) [Odds ratio: 0.56 (95% confidence interval: 0.12-2.62), p = 0.45]. No difference in the incidence of grade 3-4 diarrhea was found between the CAM co-administration group (0%) and the non-CAM group (4%) (p = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: This study did not identify an increase in CPT-11 toxicity by co-administration with CAM.

Pre-treatment serum total bilirubin level as an indicator of optimal CPT-11 dosage.

BACKGROUND: Irinotecan (CPT-11), a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent, can cause severe neutropenia and diarrhea. The area under the curve of plasma levels over time of SN-38, an active metabolite of CPT-11, was previously reported to correlate with the pre-treatment serum total bilirubin level (PTB). However, there are no established criteria for selecting CPT-11 dose on the basis of PTB. Therefore, we evaluated PTB as an indicator for the optimal CPT-11 dose. METHODS: Retrospective analyses were conducted in patients administered CPT-11 as a single agent at the Osaka National Hospital from June 2006 to July 2013. Data obtained during the first 28 days following CPT-11 administration were analyzed to compare PTB between patients with and without grade 3-4 neutropenia and grade 3-4 diarrhea. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal PTB cutoff value for PTB-associated toxicity. Subgroup analysis was performed comparing the incidence of toxicity in patients with PTB values below or above the cutoff value. RESULTS: Although PTB incidence was significantly higher in patients who developed grade 3-4 neutropenia than in those who did not, PTB was not associated with grade 3-4 diarrhea. The PTB cutoff value for association with grade 3-4 neutropenia occurrence was set at 0.8 mg/dL. The incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN) significantly elevated to 21% in patients with PTB ≥0.8 mg/dL, whereas that of patients with PTB <0.8 mg/dL was 4%. In the subgroup analysis, no difference was found in the neutropenia incidence between patients treated with a dose below 80 mg/m(2) and those treated on a weekly schedule. CONCLUSIONS: PTB can be used as a predictive marker of CPT-11-induced severe neutropenia and FN. In patients with PTB ≥0.8 mg/dL, the CPT-11 dose should be reduced to less than 80 mg/m(2) with weekly dosing.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels as a predictive marker of oxaliplatin-induced hypersensitivity reactions in Japanese patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical laboratory test data obtained prior to treatments were previously analyzed from the standpoint of susceptibility to hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with the platimun anticancer agent, oxaliplatin (L-OHP). In the present study, the time course from the first to last cycle of the treatment was additionally analyzed to determine a better predictor of these reactions. METHODS: A total of 20 laboratory test data were obtained from 108 Japanese patients with advanced colorectal cancer who were treated with the L-OHP-containing regimens, FOLFOX4 and/or mFOLFOX6. The averages and variation coefficients (CV%) of the data until the last cycle of the treatment were compared between patients with hypersensitivity reactions and those without. RESULTS: The average serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was lower in patients with grade 1/2 reactions (P=0.016), whereas its CV% value was higher in patients with grade 3/4 reactions (P=0.005) than in those without reactions. An increase in serum LDH levels was observed in some patients with grade 3/4 reactions as the cycle number increased, and thereafter hypersensitivity reactions occurred. This phenomenon was not always observed, but was never detected in patients with grade 1/2 reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Serum LDH levels may be a predictive marker of hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with L-OHP. Further extensive examinations with a larger number of patients are needed to establish a patient management strategy.

Risk factors for oxaliplatin-induced hypersensitivity reactions in Japanese patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Previously, we suggested that oxaliplatin (L-OHP)-related grade 3/4 hypersensitivity reactions occurred immediately after the initiation, but grade 1/2 reactions did not. This study was conducted to clarify the risk factors for L-OHP-related hypersensitivity reactions. METHODS: Clinical data from 108 Japanese patients with colorectal cancer were analyzed, who were treated with L-OHP-containing regimens, FOLFOX4 and/or mFOLFOX6. The risk factors examined included demographic data, preexisting allergies, laboratory test data, treatment regimen, treatment line of therapy, pretreatment with steroids, total number of cycles and cumulative amount of L-OHP. RESULTS: The incidence of grade 1/2 and grade 3/4 hypersensitivity reactions were found at 13.0% (14/108) and 9.3% (10/108), respectively. Female (P = 0.037), preexisting allergies (P = 0.004) and lower level of lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.003) were risk factors for grade 1/2 hypersensitivity reactions, and higher neutrophil count (P = 0.043) and lower monocyte count (P = 0.007) were for grade 3/4 reactions. Total number of cycles were larger in the patients with grade 3/4 reactions than those without reactions (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Further extensive examination with a large number of patients is needed to establish a patient management strategy.

[Combined determination of urine uracil levels and plasma 5-FU clearance for a simple order-made treatment with anticancer agents of FU derivative].

Individual differences exist in the pharmacodynamics of fluorouracil-derived anticancer agents, with circadian variability even in the same patient probably due to individual differences in the distribution of dihydrophrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), a decomposing enzyme. Though DPD activity is usually determined in the liver or blood, a more simplified estimation of DPD activity has been recently attempted using urine uracil levels. However, because urine uracil level has the drawback of being easily affected by food ingestion or kidney function, in this study it was determined simultaneously with the determination of plasma 5-FU clearance after sustained instillation of 250 mg 5-FU, in order to estimate DPD activity more accurately. A correlation was observed between urine uracil levels and 5-FU clearance. In cases showing a baseline urine uracil level below 25.1 mumol/g. Creatinine, the blood concentration decreased due to large 5-FU clearance, with a tendency for diminished efficacy of FU-derived anticancer agents. In cases showing a baseline urine uracil level above 99.9 mumol/g. Creatinine, on the other hand, adverse reactions due to FU anticancer agents tended to become more serious. Since urine uracil level can be determined easily, it could be the first choice in screening to detect abnormal metabolism of fluorouracil-derived anticancer agents under present circumstances. By combining determination of urine uracil level with 5-FU clearance, it seems possible to predict adverse effects and the effective rate of these agents more accurately. Under existing circumstances, where genetic analysis remains unavailable as a general practice, the combined determination of urine uracil levels and plasma 5-FU clearance may be beneficial in developing order-made treatments in cancer chemotherapy.