Efficacy of Olanzapine 5 mg versus 10 mg for the Prophylaxis of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Receiving High Emetic Risk Chemotherapy without Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of two different dosage levels of olanzapine for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving high emetic risk chemotherapy. METHODS: This study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial designed to show non-inferiority in the efficacy of olanzapine 5 mg compared to 10 mg in patients treated with high dose cisplatin or doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide. Non-inferiority was defined as a lower margin of the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) that not lower than the margin set at -25%. RESULT: A total of 140 patients were randomized to 5 mg group (n=70) or 10 mg group (n=70) of olanzapine. The complete response (CR) rate in the overall phase of olanzapine 5 and 10 mg was 58.6% v 62.9% (95%CI: -20.4, 11.8). The CR rate comparison between olanzapine 5 and 10 mg was 81.4% v 74.3% (95%CI: -6-6, 20.8) and 66.7% v 76.1% (95%CI: -23.5, 6.3) for the acute and delayed phase, respectively. No nausea rates in acute, delayed and overall phase were 70.0% v 68.6% (95%CI: -13.8, 16.6), 45.7% v 48.6% (95%CI: -19.4, 13.6) and 43.5% v 47.9% (95%CI: -19.2, 13.6). The rate of adverse events (AE) including somnolence were not different between the 5 and 10 mg groups. CONCLUSION: The two dosage levels of olanzapine were not different in terms of the efficacy and AE in the prophylaxis of CINV.

Melioidosis with Septic Shock and Disseminated Infection in a Neutropenic Patient Receiving Chemotherapy.

Melioidosis is a bacterial infection, caused by Gram-negative bacillus, Burkholderia pseudomallei, widespread in Southeast Asia and the northern part of Australia, resulting in a high mortality rate in severe infection. However, it has rarely been reported in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. The authors described a case of melioidosis in a neutropenic patient presenting with septic shock after receiving chemotherapy. Blood and urine cultures were positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei, and CT scan showed multiple pulmonary nodules and hepatosplenic abscesses. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics for the infection and with combined modalities for a malignancy.

Comparison of Treatment Outcome between Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and Conventional Radiotherapy in Postmastectomy Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare Conventional fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT) and Hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) in terms of treatment outcomes, such as in 5-year loco-regional recurrence free survival, disease free survival, overall survival, and distant metastatic free survival rates as well as toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data obtained from 462 breast cancer patients who received complete adjuvant radiotherapy treatment between January 2012 and December 2014. One hundred twenty eight patients received CFRT 2 Gy daily fractions at a total dose of 48-60 Gy (group 1), while 334 patients received HFRT 2.65-2.67 Gy daily for 15-19 fractions at a total dose of 39.7-47.8 Gy 9 (grup 2). Treatment outcome such as 5-year loco-regional recurrence free survival, disease free survival, overall survival, and distant metastatic free survival rates as well as toxicity were measured and compared between two groups. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 65.7 months (ranging from 45.1 to 95.2 months). Five-year loco-regional recurrence free survival rate was 96.1% in both CFRT and HFRT groups (p=0.993). Five-year disease-free survival rate of CFRT group was higher (68.8%), but this difference was not significant (HFRT =63.5%) (p=0.396). These were complied with 5-year overall survival rate (71.9% and 64.7%, p=0.385). Five-year distant metastatic free survival rate was 85.9% in CFRT group and 79.6% in HFRT group (p=0.169). No difference was observed between two groups in terms of toxicities, including changes in chest wall appearance, skin fibrosis, brachial plexopathy, arm edema, pulmonary fibrosis, and cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION: The treatment outcomes of hypofractionated radiotherapy in the postmastectomy breast cancer patients is comparable to the outcomes of conventional treatment at the Chonburi Cancer Hospital as previously reported from other studies, and HFRT can be implemented in resource-limited settings.