CONUT score as a predictor for anamorelin efficacy in patients with cancer cachexia receiving chemotherapy.

Background: Anamorelin is expected to improve cancer cachexia by increasing lean body mass (LBM) due to increased appetite and protein synthesis. However, the effect of anamorelin on cancer cachexia in real-world practice is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anamorelin and to identify predictors of efficacy on treatment with anamorelin.

Prognostic impact of severe neutropenia in colorectal cancer patients treated with TAS-102 and bevacizumab, addressing immortal-time bias.

Background: Several studies have reported an association between severe neutropenia and long-term survival in patients treated with trifluridine-tipiracil (TAS-102). Because some of these studies failed to address immortality time bias, however, their findings should be interpreted with caution. Additionally, the association between severe neutropenia and survival in patients receiving TAS-102 in combination with bevacizumab (Bmab) remains unclear.

Emetogenicity and Risk Factors of Nausea and Vomiting in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Receiving Trifluridine/Tipiracil and Bevacizumab Chemotherapy.

Background/aim: Although combination chemotherapy with trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) and bevacizumab (BEV) is highly effective for metastatic unresectable colorectal cancer (mCRC), this combination chemotherapy often induces nausea and vomiting. To identify risk factors for nausea and vomiting, we investigated the occurrence of nausea and vomiting in mCRC patients treated with TAS-102 and BEV.

Patients And Methods: Study patients with mCRC received TAS-102 and BEV between March 2016 and December 2021.

Prognostic Model of Baseline Medications plus Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor plus Platinum Doublet: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Association between baseline medications plus neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) plus platinum doublet remains unknown, despite several reported prognostic models. We used real-world data to investigate whether baseline medications plus NLR predict survival outcomes in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving ICI plus platinum doublet. This multicenter, retrospective, observational study conducted in Japan between December 2018 and March 2021 used real-world data of consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who received ICI (pembrolizumab or atezolizumab) plus platinum doublet as first-line treatment.

Effect of Mirtazapine for the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting in Patients With Thoracic Cancer Receiving Platinum-based Chemotherapy.

Background/aim: Mirtazapine, which exerts an antagonistic effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine type 5-HT, 5-HT, 5-HT and H receptors, is considered useful for the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This study investigated the efficacy and safety of mirtazapine for the prevention of CINV in patients with thoracic cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with thoracic cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy with 15 mg mirtazapine once daily as a prophylactic antiemetic drug between January 2014 and December 2021.

Relationship Between Osimertinib Concentration and Clinical Response in Japanese Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: Osimertinib is the first-line treatment for patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study aimed to determine the previously unclarified association of osimertinib plasma trough concentrations with efficacy, adverse events, and genetic polymorphisms in Japanese patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations.

Patients And Methods: In this prospective study, blood samples of 25 patients who received osimertinib were collected to measure plasma osimertinib concentrations and to genotypically characterize ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 and ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 polymorphisms.

Effects of adding a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist to 5 mg olanzapine, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist, and dexamethasone for preventing carboplatin-induced nausea and vomiting: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Olanzapine has been reported to be an effective antiemetic in patients receiving carboplatin-based chemotherapy. However, the efficacy of a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist (NKRA) added to olanzapine, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist (5-HTRA), and dexamethasone (DEX) has not been proven. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of NKRA, in combination with three-drug antiemetic regimens containing olanzapine, in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by carboplatin-based chemotherapy.

Cancer cachexia as a determinant of efficacy of first-line pembrolizumab in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Pembrolizumab, either as a type of monotherapy or in combination with cytotoxic anticancer agents, is effective in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the development of cancer cachexia may adversely affect anticancer drug therapy. The present study investigated the effect of cancer cachexia on clinical outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC who received first-line pembrolizumab.

Efficacy of cisplatin plus vinorelbine adjuvant chemotherapy with split-dose administration of cisplatin after complete resection of stage II-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

Although co-administration of cisplatin (CDDP) and vinorelbine (VNR) has been established as a standard of care adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there is a lack of clinical data on its safety and efficacy in Japanese patients receiving split-dose administration of CDDP. The present study analyzed patients who received CDDP + VNR with split-dose administration of CDDP after undergoing complete resection of NSCLC. Patients received four courses of CDDP (40 mg/m) and VNR (25 mg/m) on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks.

Pharmaceutical intervention for adverse events improves quality of life in patients with cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy.

Background: The effect of pharmaceutical intervention to treat adverse events on quality of life (QOL) in outpatients receiving cancer chemotherapy is unclear. We investigated whether pharmaceutical intervention provided by pharmacists in collaboration with physicians improves QOL with outpatient cancer chemotherapy.

Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective descriptive study of pharmaceutical intervention for patients receiving outpatient cancer chemotherapy at Gifu University Hospital between September 2017 and July 2020.

Efficacy and safety of 5 mg olanzapine for nausea and vomiting management in cancer patients receiving carboplatin: integrated study of three prospective multicenter phase II trials.

Background: The efficacy of olanzapine as an antiemetic agent in cancer chemotherapy has been demonstrated. However, few high-quality reports are available on the evaluation of olanzapine's efficacy and safety at a low dose of 5 mg among patients treated with carboplatin regimens. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of 5 mg olanzapine for managing nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving carboplatin regimens and identified patient-related risk factors for carboplatin regimen-induced nausea and vomiting treated with 5 mg olanzapine.

Evaluation of clinical pharmacist interventions for adverse events in hospitalized patients with thoracic cancer receiving cancer chemotherapy.

Due to the increasing complexity of cancer chemotherapy and its associated supportive care, the role of clinical pharmacists in cancer chemotherapy is becoming increasingly more important. The present study evaluated the clinical interventions of a single pharmacist on the adverse events in hospitalized patients with thoracic cancer receiving cancer chemotherapy. A single-center, retrospective study was conducted at the 614-bed, tertiary care Gifu University Hospital.

Low-Dose Olanzapine Plus Granisetron and Dexamethasone for Carboplatin-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Patients with Thoracic Malignancies: A Prospective Multicenter Phase II Trial.

Background: Olanzapine is an inexpensive and durable agent for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and is also superior to neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists in the control of nausea. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a low dose of 5 mg olanzapine plus granisetron and dexamethasone for treatment of carboplatin (CBDCA)-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with thoracic malignancies.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective, open-label, single-arm, multicenter, phase II trial in four centers in Japan.

Primary Prophylaxis of Febrile Neutropenia With Pegfilgrastim in Small-cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Amrubicin as Second-line Therapy.

Background/aim: We evaluated the efficacy of primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim (PEG) for febrile neutropenia (FN) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients receiving amrubicin (AMR).

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with SCLC receiving AMR as second-line therapy.

Results: A total of 33 patients were treated with AMR (no PEG group), while 13 patients were treated with AMR plus prophylactic administration of PEG (PEG group).

Real-world data of the association between quality of life using the EuroQol 5 Dimension 5 Level utility value and adverse events for outpatient cancer chemotherapy.

Background: Outpatient cancer chemotherapy may lead to improved quality of life (QOL) by allowing treatment to continue without impairing the social lives of patients compared with hospitalization. However, the occurrence of serious adverse events may cause a decline in QOL. We investigated the relationship between outpatient chemotherapy-induced adverse events and QOL.

Bevacizumab in Combination with TAS-102 Improves Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: TAS-102 is effective for treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This study determined whether combining bevacizumab (Bmab) with TAS-102 improves clinical outcomes in refractory mCRC.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from Japanese patients with refractory mCRC who received TAS-102 (35 mg/m , twice a day) with (T-B group) or without Bmab (TAS-102 monotherapy; T group) between July 2014 and December 2018.

Effects of pharmacokinetics-related genetic polymorphisms on the side effect profile of afatinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) represent the first-line treatment for patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer. Afatinib is a second-generation EGFR-TKI with excellent therapeutic effects. However, severe diarrhea and skin disorders are observed at high frequencies, often leading to treatment interruption because of low quality of life (QOL).

Clinical trial protocol of doublet therapy and olanzapine for carboplatin-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with thoracic cancer: a multicentre phase II trial.

Introduction: Adding neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist (NKRA) to 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone (DEX) improved carboplatin (CBDCA)-induced chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with thoracic cancer. NKRAs with high-drug cost are raising medical expenses. Olanzapine (OLZ) is less expensive and can be expected to have an excellent effect on CINV.

Improvement of Dysgeusia by Polaprezinc, a Zinc-L-carnosine, in Outpatients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy.

Background/aim: Dysgeusia is one of the adverse events frequently affecting patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Dysgeusia-induced anorexia could decrease patient's quality of life. The present study was designed to determine whether the zinc-containing compound polaprezinc improves chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia.

Control of Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Receiving Anthracycline/Cyclophosphamide Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of most distressing adverse events during cancer chemotherapy. In breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) chemotherapy, CINV is poorly controlled.

Patients And Methods: The prevalence of guideline-consistent antiemetic medication and control of CINV were investigated retrospectively in breast cancer patients receiving the first cycle of AC chemotherapy.

Efficacy of Single-dose First-generation 5-HT Receptor Antagonist and Dexamethasone for Preventing Nausea and Vomiting Induced by Low-dose Carboplatin-based Chemotherapy.

Background: Carboplatin (CBDCA) is known to exhibit a high emetic risk among moderate-emetic risk anticancer drugs, and the dose of CBDCA varies in different therapies. In concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the weekly administration of CBDCA (area under the curve (AUC) 2 mg/ml/min) and paclitaxel (PTX: 40 mg/m) is frequently applied as standard therapy. However, the optimal antiemetic measures in the use of such low-dose CBDCA remain unclear.

Simultaneous and rapid determination of gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib plasma levels using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

A simultaneous, selective, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib in 250 μL samples of human blood plasma. Diluted plasma samples were extracted using a liquid-phase extraction procedure with tert-butyl methyl ether. The three drugs were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography using a C18 column and an isocratic mobile phase running at a flow rate of 0.

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tolbutamide in protein-restricted rats.

Objectives: Effects of repeated administration of Ginkgo biloba extract on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tolbutamide were examined in rats fed a low-protein diet.

Methods:   Rats were given a low (7% casein) or control (20% casein) protein diet for 21 days and administered Ginkgo biloba extract (100mg/kg per day) for the last 5 days. Tolbutamide was co-administered on the last day.