Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Sep 2020
Practical strategies to manage cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Saudi Oncology Pharmacy Assembly Experts recommendations.
During COVID-19 pandemic, cancer patients are considered one of the most vulnerable to infection since they tend to have advanced age, multiple comorbidities, and are often immunosuppressed by their cancer or therapy. Hence, the Saudi Oncology Pharmacy Assembly has issued recommendations to reduce the frequency of cancer patients' visits to oncology centers during the pandemic while maintaining the access to cancer therapy and minimize the risk of exposure to coronavirus disease. ⋯ In conclusion, delivering cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic carries significant challenges. This paper addressed suggestions to properly manage cancer patients during difficult times. Implementing changes in practice mandates a national collaborative effort from different sectors to guarantee the quality and continuity of care. The SOPA expert panel developed these recommendations, to ultimately contribute in maintaining access to cancer therapy while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 exposure.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Sep 2020
Current state assessment survey of challenges of pharmacogenomics within oncology pharmacy practice.
The goal of this survey was to identify opportunities for health systems to increase implementation and adoption of oncology-focused pharmacogenomics services. ⋯ Oncology pharmacists reported substantial challenges in implementing a pharmacogenomic program. Future efforts to assist in developing pharmacogenomic efforts should focus on increasing pharmacist involvement, expanding education and training, and improving clinical decision support tools.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Aug 2020
Is the duration of castration resistance predictive for sequential treatment responses in the metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer setting?
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the primary therapeutic approach for treatment of prostate cancer. However,nearly all patients develop the castration-resistant disease . We evaluated real-world data with abiraterone and enzalutamide treatment. By this data, we aimed to analyze whether that prior short response to ADT could predict response to subsequent therapy with androgen receptor axis targeted agent (ARATA). ⋯ TTCR is also a predictor for PFS of the patients who were treated ARATA both whole cohort and post-docetaxel.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jul 2020
Case ReportsPembrolizumab-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Pembrolizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting the receptor programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), with anti-tumour activity demonstrated for many malignancies. Such immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with many immune-related adverse events including rash, colitis, hepatitis, pneumonitis, endocrinopathy and, rarely, haematological adverse events, including immune-related thrombocytopenia. ⋯ Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disorder caused by an inhibitory autoantibody against ADAMTS-13. While most cases of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura are idiopathic, certain conditions (e.g. bacterial infection, autoimmune disorders, malignancies) and medications are associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Other potential causes were eliminated in our patient. As acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disorder, pembrolizumab, given its unique mechanism of action and association with immune-related adverse events, is believed to be implicated in the development of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. This case is one of only two linking anti-PD-1 therapy to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura development (the other occurring in a patient on nivolumab plus ipilimumab). Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is life-threatening and clinicians are advised to be aware of its possible occurrence in immune checkpoint inhibitor-treated patients.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jul 2020
Case ReportsClinical course of COVID-19 infection in elderly patient with melanoma on nivolumab.
Outbreak of the new type coronavirus infection, known as coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19), has begun in December 2019, in Wuhan, China. As of today, 3 April 2020, 972,640 people affected and 50,325 people died from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2. There is not any standard treatment for coronavirus infection 2019; however, there are promising data for hydroxychloroquine and some anti-retroviral drugs. ⋯ In contrast to her older age, comorbidities, and cancer diagnosis, she was in a good condition, and there was also no pneumonia finding. We think that this good clinical course of coronavirus infection 2019 infection may be related to blockade of PD-1/PDL-1 pathway with nivolumab. It is impossible to say that blockade of PD-1/PDL-1pathway is a treatment option for COVID-19; however, we want to share our experience.