High cost of chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of gynecological malignancies has improved with the recent advent of molecularly targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, these drugs are expensive and contribute to the increasing costs of medical care. METHODS: The Japanese Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) Health Economics Committee conducted a questionnaire survey of JCOG-affiliated facilities from July 2021 to June 2022 to assess the prevalence of high-cost regimens. RESULTS: A total of 57 affiliated facilities were surveyed regarding standard regimens for advanced ovarian and cervical cancers for gynecological malignancies. Responses were obtained from 39 facilities (68.4%) regarding ovarian cancer and 37 (64.9%) concerning cervical cancer, with respective case counts of 854 and 163. For ovarian cancer, 505 of 854 patients (59.1%) were treated with regimens that included PARP inhibitors, costing >500 000 Japanese yen monthly, while 111 patients (13.0%) received treatments that included bevacizumab, with costs exceeding 200 000 Japanese yen monthly. These costs are ~20 and ~10 times higher than those of the conventional regimens, respectively. For cervical cancer, 79 patients (48.4%) were treated with bevacizumab regimens costing >200 000 Japanese yen per month, ~10 times the cost of conventional treatments. CONCLUSIONS: In this survey, >70% of patients with ovarian cancer were treated with regimens that included poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors or bevacizumab; ~50% of patients with cervical cancer were treated with regimens containing bevacizumab. These treatments were ~10 and ~20 times more expensive than conventional regimens, respectively. These findings can inform future health economics studies, particularly in assessing cost-effectiveness and related matters.

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms after treatment for ovarian cancer: A retrospective single-center case series.

OBJECTIVE: Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MNs) are often fatal and arise as late complications of previous anticancer drug treatment. No single-center case series has examined t-MNs in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: All patients with EOC treated at Chiba University Hospital between 2000 and 2021 were included. We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics, clinical course, and outcomes of patients who developed t-MNs. RESULTS: Among 895 cases with EOC, 814 cases were treated with anticancer drugs. The median follow-up period was 45 months (interquartile range, 27-81) months. Ten patients (1.2%) developed t-MNs (FIGO IIIA in one case, IIIC in three, IVA in one, and IVB in five). Nine patients were diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and one with acute leukemia. One patient with myelodysplastic syndrome developed acute leukemia. The median time from the first chemotherapy administration to t-MN onset was 42 months (range, 21-94 months), with t-MN diagnoses resulting from pancytopenia in four cases, thrombocytopenia in three, and blast or abnormal cell morphology in four. The median number of previous treatment regimens was four (range, 1-7). Paclitaxel + carboplatin therapy was administered to all patients, gemcitabine and irinotecan combination therapy to nine, bevacizumab to eight, and olaparib to four. Six patients received chemotherapy for t-MN. All patients died (eight cancer-related deaths and two t-MN-related deaths). None of the patients was able to restart cancer treatment. The median survival time from t-MN onset was 4 months. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with EOC who developed t-MN were unable to restart cancer treatment and had a significantly worse prognosis.

Suppressor-type TERT mutations associated with recurrence in ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

Several cancers harbor "enhancer-type" mutations of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter for immortalization. Here, we report that 8.6% (8/93) of ovarian clear cell carcinomas (OCCCs) possess the "suppressor-type" TERT promoter mutation. The recurrence rate of OCCCs with "suppressor-type" TERT promoter mutations was 62.5% (5/8) and was significantly higher than that of the "unaffected-type" with no mutation (20.8%, 15/72) or "enhancer-type" TERT promoter mutations (7.7%, 1/13). Our findings show that the acquired suppression of TERT is closely associated with OCCC development and recurrence, indicating the need for further research on telomerase suppression in cancers.

Delayed postrenal failure due to progression of asymptomatic hydronephrosis following hysterectomy.

Asymptomatic hydronephrosis following hysterectomy is generally transient. Here, we present the case of a 52-year-old woman who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for benign indications. Computed tomography (CT) to examine bleeding on the second postoperative day incidentally revealed bilateral grade II hydronephrosis. Asymptomatic hydronephrosis was not reevaluated, and gynecological outpatient follow-up was terminated with a normal creatinine level on postoperative day 43. On postoperative day 107, the patient noticed weight gain of 10 kg, decreased urine output, and generalized edema. The serum creatinine level was elevated to 5.4 mg/dL, and CT revealed bilateral grade III hydronephrosis. Urgent bilateral ureteral stenting was performed to treat stenosis of the distal ureters that caused postrenal failure. Ureteroneocystostomy was performed for strict stenosis of the right ureter at 10 months postoperatively. Histological examination of the resected distal ureter showed inflammation and fibrosis. Asymptomatic hydronephrosis developing after hysterectomy progress to delayed postrenal failure.

Introduction of rectosigmoid colectomy improves survival outcomes in early-stage ovarian cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether rectosigmoid colectomy can improve the prognosis of patients with early-stage ovarian cancer when the ovarian tumor adheres to the rectum. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 210 consecutive patients with stage I/II ovarian cancer treated between 2000 and 2016. The surgical strategy differed between the periods 2000-2007 and 2008-2016 with respect to adhesion between the ovarian tumor and rectum. In the former period, ovarian tumor was exfoliated from the rectum. Only when the residual tumor was apparently observed on the rectal surface after salpingo-oophorectomy with hysterectomy, it was subsequently removed by colorectal surgeons performing rectosigmoid colectomy. In the latter period, the ovarian tumor was resected en bloc with the rectum by performing rectosigmoid colectomy. We compared the progression-free survival (PFS) between the two treatment periods. RESULTS: Rectosigmoid colectomy was performed more frequently in the latter period than in the former period (43 patients, 31% vs. 6 patients, 8%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in complete resection rate between the two periods (97% in the former period, 99% in the latter period, p = 0.278). However, the 5-year PFS rate was significantly higher in the latter period than in the former period (86.0% vs. 74.4%, log-rank test, p = 0.034). Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis indicated that disease stage (hazard ratio [HR], 2.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-7.34) and treatment period (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.73) were independent risk factors for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Rectosigmoid colectomy could improve the prognosis of patients with early-stage ovarian cancer when the ovarian tumor adheres to the rectum.

Metastatic peripancreatic lymph nodes resection during primary debulking surgery for primary peritoneal serous carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Metastatic lymph node resection around the porta hepatis is sometimes required to achieve complete cytoreduction for ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer. Hence, this study aimed to present the surgical approach of peripancreatic lymph node removal around the porta hepatis as part of primary debulking surgery. METHODS: A 75-year old woman with stage IIIC primary peritoneal serous carcinoma underwent primary debulking surgery by means of the following procedures: bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, total hysterectomy, omentectomy, total pelvic peritonectomy, rectosigmoid colectomy with anastomosis, right hemicolectomy, right diaphragm resection, partial jejunal resection, and pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Furthermore, she underwent enlarged peripancreatic lymph nodes resection located in the hepatoduodenal ligament and on the posterior pancreatic head. An anatomic variant of the common hepatic artery was identified to be arising from the superior mesenteric artery and not from the celiac artery. The common hepatic artery ran behind the portal vein. We resected the lymph nodes without causing injury of the hepatic artery, portal vein, and common bile duct and achieved complete cytoreduction. RESULTS: The histological examination revealed high-grade serous carcinoma in three of nine resected peripancreatic lymph nodes. In contrast, only one lymph node metastasized in the interaortocaval region among the 63 resected regional lymph nodes (paraaortic and pelvic lymph nodes). CONCLUSION: Metastatic peripancreatic lymph nodes resection around the porta hepatis is feasible and sometimes necessary for cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer.

Learning curve of high-complexity surgery for advanced ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the learning curve for a monodisciplinary surgical team consisting of gynecologic oncologists performing cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, involving high-complexity procedures with bowel resection and upper abdominal surgery. METHODS: We investigated 271 consecutive patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal carcinoma undergoing cytoreductive surgery for stage III/IV disease. All operations were performed by a team consisting of only gynecologic oncologists. Patients were classified into 2 groups depending on the surgical complexity score (a cumulative score based on complexity and number of procedures performed). Learning curves for patients with moderate (4-7, 63 patients) and high scores (8-18, 208 patients) were evaluated using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis of operative time, total blood loss, and perioperative complications. RESULTS: Operative time and total blood loss showed a learning curve. The CUSUM curve for operative time peaked at the 28th and 51st case in the moderate- and high-score groups, respectively. The CUSUM curve for total blood loss peaked at the 16th and 55th case in the moderate- and high-score groups, respectively. The CUSUM curve for complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIb) showed a downward slope after the 6th case in the high-score group and remained within the acceptable range throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Proficiency in performing high-complexity surgery was achieved after approximately 50 cases and this number is greater than the number of cases required to perform moderate-complexity surgery. Acceptable rates of severe perioperative complications were observed even during the initial learning period in cases of high-complexity surgery.

Aggressive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer decreases the risk of intraperitoneal recurrence.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the pattern of first recurrence of advanced ovarian cancer before and after the introduction of aggressive surgery. METHODS: We investigated 291 patients with stage III/IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer. Aggressive surgery including gastrointestinal and upper abdominal surgeries was introduced for advanced ovarian cancer in 2008. The site and time until first recurrence were compared between 70 patients treated without aggressive surgery (2000-2007) and 221 patients who underwent aggressive surgery (2008-2016). RESULTS: The intraperitoneal recurrence rate was significantly lower in patients treated during 2008-2016 than in patients treated during 2000-2007 (55% [82/149] vs. 81% [46/57], p < 0.001). The median time to intraperitoneal recurrence was significantly longer during 2008-2016 than during 2000-2007 (36.2 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 31.7-60.0 vs. 14.6 months, 95% CI 11.3-20.1, log-rank test: p < 0.001). However, extraperitoneal recurrence rate was significantly higher during 2008-2016 than during 2000-2007 (27% [40/149] vs. 2% [1/57], p < 0.001). Extraperitoneal recurrence occurred during 2008-2016 in the pleura/lungs and the para-aortic lymph nodes above the renal vessels. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that treatment period (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.34-0.71, p < 0.001) and bevacizumab use (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.39-0.87, p = 0.009) were independently associated with intraperitoneal recurrence; stage IV disease (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.14-3.06, p = 0.034) was independently associated with extraperitoneal recurrence. CONCLUSION: Aggressive surgery reduced intraperitoneal recurrence and prolonged time to recurrence, contributing to better patient survival.

Detection of bacteria in blood circulation in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Bacterial translocation, in which intestinal bacteria pass through the intestinal wall, enter the blood circulation, and spread to other sites of the body, is thought to cause bacteremia and sometimes febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients who receive cancer chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected blood samples from 39 patients with various cancers at baseline and after chemotherapy began (during chemotherapy) and explored how frequently bacteria could be detected in the blood using a highly-sensitive, bacterial rRNA-targeted reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. RESULTS: Bacterial traces, typically Escherichia coli and Enterobacter spp., were detected in 10 patients (25.6%) at baseline and 11 patients (28.2%) during chemotherapy. The bacterial traces were positive either at baseline or during chemotherapy in 3 (60%) of 5 patients who had FN, and 6 (46%) of 13 patients aged 65 years or older. CONCLUSION: These findings support the notion that bacterial translocation occurs in patients with cancer regardless of whether they receive chemotherapy and can lead to the development of FN and other treatment-related infections.

Removal of the entire internal iliac vessel system is a feasible surgical procedure for locally advanced ovarian carcinoma adhered firmly to the pelvic sidewall.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian carcinomas sometimes grow in the pelvic cavity, adhering firmly to the pelvic sidewall. These cases are often considered as inoperable or result in the incomplete resection because the tumors are not mobile. We performed en bloc resection of the tumors along with the entire internal iliac vessel system to achieve complete resection. METHODS: Twenty of 237 consecutive patients with FIGO stage II-IV ovarian, fallopian tubal, or primary peritoneal carcinoma who underwent cytoreductive surgery at Chiba University Hospital between January 2008 and December 2016 had locally advanced tumors adhered firmly to the pelvic sidewall. We performed isolation of the tumors from the pelvic sidewall using the following procedure: the trunk of internal iliac vessels, the obturator vessels, the inferior gluteal and internal pudendal vessels were isolated and divided. The tumor together with the entire internal iliac vessel system was isolated from the sacral nerve plexus and piriform muscle. We examined the surgical outcomes, perioperative complications, and prognosis for the patients who underwent this procedure. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent complete resection, resulting in no gross residual disease in the pelvic cavity. There was no mortality within 90 days postoperatively. Two patients had Grade IIIb complications, comprising wound dehiscence and vesicovaginal fistula. Recurrence occurred in nine of the patients. However, no recurrence was observed in the pelvic sidewall. The median progression-free survival was 43 months. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of the entire internal iliac vessel system is feasible for the complete resection of locally advanced ovarian carcinomas adhered firmly to the pelvic sidewall.

Metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection following full-thickness resection of right diaphragm for advanced ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian carcinomas sometimes metastasize to the cardiophrenic lymph node. We present a surgical technique for metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection following full-thickness resection of the right diaphragm. METHODS: A 51-year-old woman presented with ovarian carcinoma and cardiophrenic lymph node metastasis with peritoneal dissemination. The surgical procedure for metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection following full-thickness resection of the right diaphragm was as follows. (1) Stripping of the right diaphragm peritoneum was started from the ventral side toward the dorsal side. At the area where stripping was ceased due to tendon or muscle invasion, the thoracic cavity was opened. Full-thickness resection of the diaphragm was proceeded in the left-right direction. (2) The bare area was exposed. Full-thickness resection of the diaphragm was continued along the bare area. (3) After the right diaphragm resection was completed, the remaining right diaphragm was cut toward the cranial side. The metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node was grasped and pulled by forceps, and subsequently resected using a vessel-sealing device. (4) After thoracic chest tube placement, the diaphragmatic defect was closed by continuous non-absorbable sutures. RESULTS: We successfully achieved metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection following full-thickness resection of the right diaphragm without intra- or postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection is a simple procedure for gynecologic surgeons who are able to perform full-thickness resection of the diaphragm.

Resection of a metastatic bulky subphrenic tumor for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer using liver mobilization and the Pringle maneuver.

OBJECTIVE: Advanced ovarian cancer commonly disseminates to the diaphragm. A complete removal of a bulky diaphragmatic disease is sometimes difficult. We present the surgical technique that we used for resecting a large nodular and disseminated subphrenic tumor that occupied the subphrenic space using liver mobilization and the Pringle maneuver. METHODS: The patient was a 78-year-old woman with FIGO IIIC left ovarian carcinosarcoma. She had a metastatic subphrenic tumor measuring 12 cm in diameter. The subphrenic tumor resection was performed as a part of cytoreductive surgery. Owing to the adherence between the right diaphragm and the liver, the diaphragm was resected in full thickness. The liver was mobilized by keeping the resected part of the diaphragm attached to the liver. The subphrenic tumor and the attached diaphragm were resected en bloc by excising the liver which was adjacent to the tumor. During the resection, the hepatoduodenal ligament was clamped with a Satinsky clamp (Pringle maneuver) to reduce blood loss from the liver. The diaphragmatic defect was closed with permanent mesh. RESULTS: We achieved complete cytoreduction with no residual tumor without ICU admission. No severe intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 22 and started adjuvant chemotherapy on postoperative day 27. The histological examination revealed the carcinosarcoma in the diaphragmatic peritoneum, although the carcinosarcoma did not infiltrate the adjacent liver. CONCLUSION: Resection of a metastatic bulky subphrenic tumor using liver mobilization and the Pringle maneuver is a feasible technique for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.

Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for ovarian cancer with double inferior vena cava.

Objective: Double inferior vena cava (IVC) is present in 1.0%­3.0% of the general population and can create clinical problems [1,2]. This anomaly is classified according to the presence and pattern of an interiliac vein; 23% of double-IVC cases do not have an interiliac vein, and variations exist in those with one [3]. Fewreports on retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with a double IVC exist. Herein, we show retroperitoneal lymphadenectomies in two patients with different double IVC classifications. Methods: We performed an interval debulking surgery, including retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, in two cases of advanced ovarian cancer with double IVC. The retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy procedure was the same as that for patients with normal IVC. Case 1 involved a 53-year-old female having a double IVC without an interiliac vein. Case 2 involved a 51-year-old female having a double IVC with an interiliac vein from the right common iliac vein to the left IVC. Preoperative enhanced computed tomography revealed double IVC flow pattern in both cases; however, the presence of the interiliac vein in case 2 remained unrecognized. Results: Lymphadenectomy in case 1 was without complications. In case 2, major bleeding from the interiliac vein occurred during lymphatic tissue removal from the front of the sacral region. The bleeding was difficult to stop, and was finally stopped using Tacho Sil®. We then completed lymphadenectomy. Conclusions: During retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with a double IVC, it is important to determine the presence of an interiliac vein. Furthermore, its flow pattern should be considered with care.

Feasibility of dose-dense epirubicin and cyclophosphamide with subcutaneous pegfilgrastim 3.6 mg support: a single-center prospective study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Dose-dense chemotherapy consisting of a combination of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) improves the survival of patients with breast cancer. Although pegfilgrastim was used at a subcutaneous dose of 6.0 mg in a pivotal study of dose-dense EC treatment, pegfilgrastim at a dose of 3.6 mg has been approved in Japan. We have assessed the feasibility of dose-dense EC treatment supported with a 3.6 mg dose of pegfilgrastim by evaluating the relative dose intensity (RDI) and safety of the treatment, together with measuring the pegfilgrastim concentrations remaining on the day of starting the next cycle of chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with primary breast cancer received a total of 4 cycles of dose-dense EC treatment every 2 weeks, together with a subcutaneous injection of 3.6 mg pegfilgrastim on the day after chemotherapy. The serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) concentrations were measured on the 15th day of every chemotherapy cycle. RESULTS: From March 2015 through to July 2016, a total of 51 patients (median age 51 years; range 33-73 years) were studied. The mean RDI was 95.2% (range 60.0-100%). Although most adverse events were consistent with those reported in previous studies, pneumocystis pneumonia developed in two patients during the following course of docetaxel treatment. The median serum G-CSF concentration was 92.5 (range 30.4-440) pg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: With support provided by pegfilgrastim injection at a dose of 3.6 mg, dose-dense EC is feasible and associated with maintenance of a high RDI. There was no clinically significant accumulation of serum G-CSF concentrations associated with the use of a 3.6 mg dose of pegfilgrastim at 2-week intervals.

Survival and safety associated with aggressive surgery for stage III/IV epithelial ovarian cancer: A single institution observation study.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of aggressive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer at a non-high-volume center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated consecutive patients with stage III/IV ovarian, fallopian, and peritoneal cancer undergoing elective aggressive surgery from January 2008 to December 2012, which encompassed the first 5years after implementing an aggressive surgery protocol. After receiving appropriate training for 9months, a gynecological surgical team began performing multi-visceral resections. Primary debulking surgery was chosen when the team considered that optimal surgery was achievable on the initial laparotomy, otherwise interval debulking surgery was chosen (the protocol treatments). Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis (full-set analysis), and outcomes were compared to those of patients who underwent standard surgery between 2000 and 2007. RESULTS: Of 106 consecutive patients studied, 87 (82%) underwent aggressive surgery per protocol and 19 were excluded. Serous carcinoma was the most common disease (78%), followed by clear cell carcinoma (7%), and 32% of the patients had stage IV disease. The respective median progression-free and overall survival rates increased from 14.6 and 38.1months before implementation, respectively, to 25.0 and 68.5months after implementation, respectively. Complete resection was achieved in 83 of the 106 patients (78%), and the surgical complexity score was high (>8) in 61 patients (58%); although there was no mortality within 12weeks of surgery, major complications occurred in 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that outcomes improved after implementing aggressive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, without causing a significant increase in mortality. Factors enhancing survival outcomes are discussed.

Complete resection of locally advanced ovarian carcinoma fixed to the pelvic sidewall and involving external and internal iliac vessels.

OBJECTIVE: Locally advanced ovarian carcinomas may be fixed to the pelvic sidewall, and although these often involve the internal iliac vessels, they rarely involve the external iliac vessels. Such tumors are mostly considered inoperable. We present a surgical technique for complete resection of locally advanced ovarian carcinoma fixed to the pelvic sidewall and involving external and internal iliac vessels. METHODS: A 69-year-old woman presented with ovarian carcinoma fixed to the right pelvic sidewall, which involved the right external and internal iliac arteries and veins and the right lower ureter, rectum, and vagina. We cut the external iliac artery and vein at the bifurcation and at the inguinal ligament to resect the external artery and vein. Then, we reconstructed the arterial and venous supplies of the right external artery and vein with grafts. After creating a wide space immediately inside of the sacral plexus to allow the tumor fixed to pelvic sidewall with the internal iliac vessels to move medially, we performed total internal iliac vessel resection. RESULTS: We achieved complete en bloc tumor resection with the right external and internal artery and vein, right ureter, vagina, and rectum adhering to the tumor. There were no intra- or postoperative complications, such as bleeding, graft occlusion, infection, or limb edema. CONCLUSION: Exfoliation from the sacral plexus and total resection with external and internal iliac vessels enables complete resection of the tumor fixed to the pelvic sidewall.

[Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Cancer Drug Therapy - Platinum Derivatives(Cisplatin and Carboplatin)].

Cisplatin, a first-generation platinum derivative, is one of the most widely used anticancer agents and can treat a broad spectrum of malignancies. Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is a major dose-limiting side effect resulting from damage to the proximal tubules of the kidney. This nephrotoxicity can be prevented by lowering the concentration of cisplatin and shortening the period of cisplatin exposure to the proximal tubules. In clinical practice, high-volume hydration(>3 L intravenous isotonic saline), forced diuresis(mannitol and/or furosemide), and magnesium supplementation have been generally used to lower the risk of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Short hydration(short-term, low-volume hydration with oral fluid intake)has recently been undertaken among patients with reserved renal function and good performance status, especially in outpatient settings. Carboplatin is a second-generation platinum-based agent that is almost completely excreted from the kidneys following its administration. Its pharmacokinetics can be predicted based on the glomerular filtration rate(GFR). The area under the blood concentration-time curve(AUC), an indicator of drug exposure volume in the body, is closely correlated with hematotoxicity and antitumor effect. It is now a widespread practice to set carboplatin doses based on the GFR after establishing a target AUC. This article describes the characteristics of these 2 platinum-based drugs, focusing on the recommendations based on the recently published guidelines regarding nephropathy in patients undergoing cancer drug therapy.

Quantitative assessment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity using a point-of-care nerve conduction device.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) seriously impairs patients' quality of life cumulatively and dose-dependently. Because assessment of CIPN usually depends on patients' subjective evaluation of symptoms, objective and quantitative measures are needed. We evaluated a point-of-care nerve conduction device (POCD), previously validated for the assessment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of the sural nerve were measured using a portable, automated POCD (DPNCheck; NeuroMetrix Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) in patients with a clinical diagnosis of CIPN of grade 1 or higher. We compared SNAP and SNCV among patients with different grades of CIPN according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. A total of 50 patients (22 men, 28 women; median age, 64 years; grade 1/2/3, 21/18/11) were evaluated. Anticancer drugs responsible for CIPN were cisplatin in five patients, oxaliplatin in 15, carboplatin in 5, paclitaxel in 16, docetaxel in 14, nab-paclitaxel in 7, vincristine in 6, and bortezomib in 3. Unadjusted SNAP was 8.45 ± 3.67 µV (mean ± SD) in patients with grade 1 CIPN, 5.42 ± 2.68 µV with grade 2, and 2.45 ± 1.52 µV with grade 3. Unadjusted SNCV was 49.71 ± 4.77 m/s in patients with grade 1 CIPN, 48.78 ± 6.33 m/s with grade 2, and 44.14 ± 7.31 m/s with grade 3. The adjusted SNAP after controlling for age significantly differed between each CTCAE grade (P < 0.001, ancova). The adjusted SNCV after controlling for age and height also differed significantly (P = 0.027). Differences in the severity of CIPN could be detected objectively and quantitatively using this POCD.

Efficacy of palonosetron plus aprepitant in preventing chemoradiotherapy-induced nausea and emesis in patients receiving daily low-dose cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer: a phase II study.

PURPOSE: Antiemetic recommendations during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT)) have not been established yet. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of palonosetron plus aprepitant, without routine use of dexamethasone, could alleviate chemoradiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CRINV). METHODS: This was a non-randomized, prospective, single-center, open phase II study. Patients with cervical cancer, who were treated with daily low-dose cisplatin (8 mg/m(2)/day) and concurrent radiation (2 Gy/day, 25 fractions, five times a week), were enrolled in this study. All patients received intravenous palonosetron (0.75 mg on day 1 of each week) and oral aprepitant (125 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on days 2 and 3 of each week). The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with a complete response, defined as no emetic episodes and no use of antiemetic rescue medication during the treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (median age, 50 years; range, 33-72 years) were enrolled in this study between June 2013 and April 2014. A total of 13 (48 %) patients showed a complete response to the antiemetic regimen, while 8 patients (30 %) had emetic episodes and 6 patients (22 %) used rescue medication without emetic episodes. No severe adverse effects caused by palonosetron plus aprepitant were observed. CONCLUSION: The combination of palonosetron plus aprepitant was permissive for the prevention of CRINV. This regimen should be considered for patients in whom dexamethasone is contraindicated or not well tolerated.