1. Side effects of Chemotherapy
Dr G Srinivasan
Locum Cons Oncologist
Broomfield Hospital
Chelmsford
2. From inability to let well alone;
from too much zeal for the new and contempt for what is old;
from putting knowledge before wisdom, science before art, and
cleverness before common sense;
from treating patients as cases;
and from making the cure of the disease more grievous than the
endurance of the same, Good Lord, deliver us.
Sir Robert Hutchison MD FRCP (1871-1960)
4. Serendipity
Chemical warfare - World War I
2nd
December 1943
105 German bombers attacked 27 Allied ships in Bari Harbour
John Harvey - 2000 shells of mustard gas
Louis Goodman & Alfred Gilman injected Nitrogen mustard
into patient with Hodgkins Lymphoma- 1942
Serendipity
5. Adapted from History of Cancer Chemotherapy, Cancer Research Nov 1 2008, 68, 8643
6. Adapted from History of Cancer Chemotherapy, Cancer Research Nov 1 2008, 68, 8643
16. Management
Prevention
To be given within 6 hours day 1, 2 and 3 ( 贈7000)
Quick recognition stop infusion
Dexrazoxane (Savene) originally used to prevent cardiotoxicity of
anthracyclines
Fe + anthracyclines Oxygen free radicals
Cold packs
Hyaluronidase infiltration - Vinca alkaloids, taxanes
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) topical solvent
17. Assessment of Veins
Recognise need for central lines PICC, Hickman, Portacath
National Extravasation Information Service, St Chads Unit, City Hospital, Birmingham
www.extravasation.org.uk
Goolsby TV, Lombardo EA (2006) Extravasation of chemotherapeutic agents:
Prevention and treatment. Semin.Oncol. 33, 139-43
Over compliance
18. Chemotherapy Induced Nausea & Vomiting
Vomiting Centre
Chemoreceptor Trigger Zone (CTZ) / Area Postrema (base of IV ventricle)
Outside blood brain barrier
Receptors Dopamine D2, serotonin 5 HT-3, opioid, acetylcholine, Subst P
CINV
Acute emesis - < 24 hours
Delayed emesis - > 24 hours
Anticipatory emesis before chemotherapy
21. High emetogenic - Steroids + 5 HT3 antogonists + Aprepitant
Moderate - 5 HT3 antagonists + steroids
Low - Steorids
As and when required Dopamine antagonists
Refractory vomiting - s/c infusion via syringe drivers, hydration
CINV
22. Beware of other causes of emesis
Bowel obstruction
Constipation
Radiotherapy
23. Hypersenstivity to Chemotherapy
Not uncommon
Oxaliplatin/ Carboplatin - Type 1 reaction
Severe anaphylaxis rare
Taxanes - 1st
dose hypersensitivity
Facilities for treatment of anaphylaxis
Pretreatment with corticosteroids, antihistamine standard protocol
? rechallenge
Monoclonal Ab - Murine, Chimeric vs Humanised
Cholinergic Syndrome Irinotecan flushes, sweating, diarrhoea
Atropine as pre-medication
Oesophageal- pharyngeal synd Oxaliplatin avoid cold drinks
Paclitaxel cremaphore ethanol
24. Tumour Lysis Syndrome
Uncommon
Bulky tumour
High sensitivity to chemotherapy
Escape of large amount of cellular components into circulation
urea, K, PO4, Ca
Renal failure, arrythmias, hypotension, seizures, death
Beware adequate hydration/ urine output, steroids, allopurinol,
Uric acid
Urate oxidase
Rasburicase
Allantoin
Biochemical vs Clinical
25. Flu like syndrome
Fever, malaise, headaches, chills, myalgia, arthralgia
Interferons, interleukins
Monoclonal Ab
Colony stimulating factor
chemotherapy
26. Haematological toxicity
Marrow suppression - cytotoxic
Depends on
Drugs single agent / combination
Dose
Schedule - eg., 14 day CHOP vs 21 day CHOP
Patient factor bone mets, radiation, age, previous chemotherapy,
3rd
space collections
27. Neutropenia
Febrile (Temp > 37.5 C) + neutropenia
Neutropenic Sepsis vasodilation, hypotension, end organ failure
< 1.5 x 10/ L
Low risk
Fit patient, no extremes of age
Regime not very marrow suppressive
Neutropenia not expected to be prolonged
No systemic symptoms
Someone at home, access to telephone, hospital
High risk
Myelotoxic regimes eg., lymphoma, leukaemia
Immunosuppression HIV,
28. Awareness and Access
Patient / staff education
24/7 access to specialist care , Acute Oncology Service
Oral antibiotics Ciprofloxacin 750 mg bd + Co-amoxiclav 625 mg tds x 7 days
Clarithromycin if allergic to Penicillin
Admission do not wait for investigation result
Piperacillin IV 4.5 g tds + Gentamicin 6mg/Kg loading dose 48-72 hrs, if afebrile 24 hrs
more followed by oral AntiBx for 5 days
Teicoplanin if allergic to Penicillin
Consider removing central line if fever does not subside in 42 -72 hrs
Consider Teicoplanin, antifungals
Follow local protocols, microbiology advice
29. Serum lactate
Blood culture peripheral + central line
Neutropenic Sepsis consider ITU/ HDU fluids, O , monitoring
G-CSF
Profound (< 0.1 x 10/ L), prolonged (>10 days) neutropenia
Sepsis, organ failure
Fungal infection
Elderly, frail
Post neutropenic scenario
Dose reduction palliative chemTx
GCSF secondary prophylaxis in curative, adjuvant regime
Primary GCSF prophylaxis
Lenogastrim, filgastrim, Pegylated GCSF long acting
30. Role for Prophylactic AntiBx
Significant Trial - Quniolone AntiBx vs Placebo small but definite role
Prophylactic Septrin for lymphomas
Anaemia
Red cell transfusions to improve quality of life
Erythropoietin not routinely recommended, under NICE review
Thrombocytopaenia Platinum compounds, bone marrow infiltration
31. Mucositis
Stomatitis
Could be isolated or part of neutropenia
Head & Neck radiotherapy
Meticulous oral hygeine, rinses, anti thrush, analgesics
Diarrhoea
Flouropyrimidines, Irinotecan, small molecule targeted agents
Sunitinib, Sorefanib, Erlotinib, Gefitinib
Hydration, loperamide, severe cases Octreotide infusion
Dihydropyrimidine dehyrdrogenase (DPD) deficiency ~ 5 % of Caucasians
33. Cardiac Toxicity
Anthracyclines
Doxorubicin breast, lymphomas, small cell lung ca, sarcomas
Congestive cardiomyopathy few months to few years
Cumulative dose
Upto 450 mg/m族 - rare
550 mg/ m族 - 7%
600 mg/ m族 - 15%
700 mg / m族 - 30%
Prior heart disease, chest radiation, age extremes, young women, HT
Pre chemo cardiac evaluation Echo, MUGA
Counsel/ consent
Dexrazoxane
Liposomal anthracyclines
34. Endothelial damage with Cisplatin Testicular cancers
HT increased risk for CVS related mortality
Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
Know cardiac toxicity
Avoid using with anthracyclines
Monitor 3 monthly Echo/ MUGA
Reversible
Long term effects unknown
Sunitinib, Bevacizumab (VEGF inhibitors)
HT, vascular thromboses,
35. Pulmonary Toxicity
Acute pneumonitis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
Bleomycin , Busulphan, methotrexate, gemcitabine
Lung function tests
CXR
Diff Dx bacterial infections, PE, pneumocystis carinii
Role of corticosteroids
Influence of RadioTx
37. Cancer patient vs Cancer Survivor
58% of long term survivors of childhood cancer suffer one ongoing medical
problem; 32% have two or more
41% Endocrine disorder
26% organ toxicity
17% impaired mobility
15% Neuropsychological
14% infertility
13% Sensory deficits
10% Cosmetic problems
(Stevens et al, Eur J Cancer, 1998)
Second cancers
Gonadal dysfunction
40. Nephro toxcity
Cisplatin
Assess Renal function including GFR
Carboplatin- less nephrotoxic
EDTA, 24 hour Creatinine clearance
Cockcroft- Gault formula
Crcl =
F x (140- age in yrs) x weight (kg)
Serum Creatinine (mmol/L)
F = 1.04 (females); 1.23 (males)
(GFR)
Calverts formula Dose (mg) = desired AUC x (GFR + 25)
AUC Area under the curve
AUC 8 for adjuvant Germ cell tumours
Usually 5 or 6
(also Ototoxcity)
49. Chemotherapy | National Cancer Action Team
http://ncat.nhs.uk/our-work/ensuring-better-treatment/chemotherapy
The National Cancer Action Team are leading a number of work streams to
ensure that the recommendations of the NCAG report and the Cancer
Reform ...
Doctors 'rely on chemo too much'
BBC News
Doctors are being urged to re-think their
approach to giving chemotherapy during care
at the end of life.
A review of 600 cancer patients who died
within 30 days of treatment found that in more
than a quarter of cases it actually hastened or
caused death.
The report by the National Confidential
Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death said
doctors should consider reducing doses or not
using chemotherapy at all.
Some 80,000 patients undergo chemotherapy
each year
Professor Jane Maher, chief medical officer at
Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "This report
provides very disturbing information about the
safety of treatment for incurable cancer.
50. Chemotherapy units 'stretched to the limit'
Cancer patients face the prospect of longer waits for chemotherapy because units
are being stretched to the limit by ever-increasing demand, say specialists.
Daily Telegraph, 7th July 2013
Cancer waiting times
Breach
Patient / relatives demands
Targets
Also, patients or their families may demand chemotherapy regardless
of the patient's prognosis,
52. 70 yr man
Cancer ascending colon R hemicolectomy - 2010
Multiple liver metastases Mar 2013
Current Rx Palliative Oxaliplatin/ Capecitabine/ Bevacizumab
Name the main side effect from Oxaliplatin
The man complains of profuse diarrhoea what could be responsible?
Which agent is the targeted RX? What does it target? What will you monitor?
He develops a massive PE what could be responsible?
53. This mans liver metastases progresses. He is KRAS wild type
You commence him on a combination of
Irinotecan/ infusional 5 FU/ Cetuximab
What drug would you give as pre treatment before Irinotecan?
Patient seeks advice for extensive skin rash/ acne which agent is
responsible?
55. Summary
Cancer treatment is advancing rapidly
More patients and elderly patients are being treated
Cancer incidence and people diagnosed with it is increasing
Long term survival seen in some tumour types
More and more combination treatments
More and unique side effects
Long term consequences of cancer therapy