Implementation of a clinical pharmacist-led service to optimize management of refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adult hematology/oncology clinic.

Objective: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common and potentially debilitating adverse effect of chemotherapy. Refractory CINV can be particularly difficult to control. This report provides details on the implementation and evaluation of a pharmacist-led program for the management of refractory CINV in hematology and oncology clinics.

Unleashing the power of immunotherapy and targeted therapy combinations: Advancing cancer care or discovering unknown toxicities?

Objective: The purpose of this review was to summarize the triumphs and pitfalls of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combinations. A literature review of PubMed was conducted and studies were included if they were classified as a clinical trial and assessed TKI and ICI combinations for solid tumor malignancies. Dates of literature search included January 1, 1988 through September 22, 2019.

Hypertension and QT interval prolongation associated with targeted systemic cancer therapies.

Objective: To summarize the proposed mechanisms behind hypertension and QT interval prolongation associated with use of targeted systemic cancer therapies and provide recommendations for monitoring or managing these toxicities.

Summary: The cardiotoxic effects of targeted systemic cancer therapies represents a new paradigm of cancer treatment associated cardiovascular adverse events. National guidelines regarding optimal monitoring and management strategies for hypertension and QT interval prolongation associated with use of these therapies are lacking.

PARP-inhibitor potpourri: A comparative review of class safety, efficacy, and cost.

Purpose: To summarize similarities and differences in efficacy, safety, and cost of available PARP-inhibitors and offers pearls to distinguish subtle nuances between each agent to help guide therapy.

Summary: Currently, four PARP-inhibitors (olaparib, rucaparib, niraparib, and talazoparib) are FDA-approved, with olaparib, rucaparib, and niraparib approved for treatment and/or maintenance or ovarian cancer and olaparib and talazoparib approved for the treatment of recurrent metastatic BRCA-mutant, HER2-negative breast cancer. While the PARP-inhibitor class is generally are well-tolerated, each agent does possess a unique side-effect profile.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor utilization postautologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant in multiple myeloma patients: Does one size fit all?

Purpose: To evaluate a single institution's experience with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant in myeloma patients to identify populations that benefit most from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration.

Methods: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted on patients 18+ years with multiple myeloma that underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant at UW Health from January 2012 to May 2016. Data collection included demographics, length of stay, time to engraftment, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score, and hematopoietic cell transplantation-comorbidity index.