1. Chemotherapy. 2013 Jul 19;59(2):85-92. [Epub ahead of print]

Potential Interactions with Anticancer Agents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Mouzon A, Kerger J, D'Hondt L, Spinewine A.

Department of Pharmacy, CHU Mont-Godinne Dinant, Université catholique de
Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.

Background: Patients with cancer are particularly susceptible to drug
interactions (DIs), but the extent of the problem has received limited attention.
We aimed to evaluate the frequency of interactions with anticancer agents in a
group of cancer patients. Methods : The study was performed in a Belgian teaching
hospital. One hundred and twenty-two patients with solid malignancies were
included. A comprehensive drug history was performed by a clinical pharmacist.
Three renowned DI compendia were used to identify DIs. Results: Forty-one
potential interactions involving an anticancer agent and considered to be
clinically significant were identified among 25% of patients. The anticancer
drugs mostly involved were cisplatin and methotrexate, and the most frequent
co-medications involved were vitamin K antagonists, proton pump inhibitors and
diuretics. In the majority of cases, the potential adverse consequence was
increased toxicity of the anticancer agent and/or of the co-medication. Less than
10% of DIs were identified by the three compendia. Conclusions: Preventive
measures should be taken to avoid increased toxicity or decreased efficacy of the
drugs. Most of the time, this simply involves surveillance of biological or
clinical parameters. Collaboration with a clinical pharmacist may be useful for
the prescribing physician. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 23881290  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]