[Prediction of gemcitabine treatment discontinuation based on platelet count before first administration].

Decrease in white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil or platelet (PLT) count due to treatment with gemcitabine (GEM) is a dose-limited factor (DLF). Even for cases that satisfy the standard criteria for initiation of GEM therapy, the scheduled therapy is reportedly occasionally discontinued because of decreased PLT or WBC count. Here, a retrospective study was made to predict the factor causing discontinuation of GEM treatment before its first administration. The results showed that PLT count immediately before the first administration was significantly less in the unfinished administration group than in the finished group. It was also demonstrated that a PLT count less than 16×10/4 mL before the first administration of GEM was the significant risk factor leading to discontinuation of GEM treatment. Thus, it was suggested that this result would be available as the dose reduction standard to determine the first dose of GEM treatment.

[Investigation of factors associated with time change in breath alcohol concentration after paclitaxel administration].

Paclitaxel (PTX) injection is presently used for various types of cancer therapy. Because PTX is an insoluble medicine, alcohol is included. Therefore, after PTX administration, the breath alcohol concentration (BAC) detected is reported. We measured BAC after PTX administration and conducted an investigation into change over time. We also investigated factors associated with BAC. As a result, the BAC rate of detection just after the PTX administration was 52%. BAC was confirmed 3 hours after the administration. Therefore, sufficient rest periods were necessary after PTX administration and the need to avoid driving was proved. From comparison of the BAC detected and undetected groups, no significant sex differences were found in the BAC detected group in age, dosage, or body surface area. However, about a dosage per the time, many other things were significant in the BAC detected group in terms of dosage per time. From these results, it was suggested that the BAC detection rate rose with the dosage per time. However, one cannot predict BAC detection by the usual medical examination. Thus, when receiving PTX treatment on an outpatient basis, the patient should be warned not to drive to and from the clinic.