Necessary assistance from pharmacists could help in identifying predictable toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors or ICIs that are related to gastrointestinal, endocrine, and dermatological toxicities, and fatigue according to a recent study.
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The researchers said that introduction of ICIs is
changing the cancer therapy, with new drugs and new toxicities – an evolving
area encountered by pharmacists.
Research sought to compare the pattern of
nivolumab-induced adverse events observed in practice with that in clinical
trial and literature data, as well as identify the presentation and treatment
modalities initiated in practice.
Furthermore, the researchers performed a retrospective
case not review across two South Australian hospitals to identify the common
toxicities and symptomatic treatments experienced by patients initiating
nivolumab. Then, experts compared the results with clinical trial data from
product innovator Bristol-Myer Squib and other published literature.
There were 70 patients enrolled in the study, of which
60 or 86% had any grade adverse events or AEs. There were 59 out of 70 (84%)
had severe grade 3 to grade 4 AEs. These outcomes were consistent with those
found in clinical trial and published literature data.
The prevalence of adverse events, collectively, with
details on presentation and treatments indicated potential pharmacy practice
strategies and areas for intervention. Researchers said that ICIs are an
emerging treatment in cancer therapy for prolonging life, minimizing symptoms,
and selectively targeting cancer. The program death 1 inhibitors, such as nivolumab,
fall within this class, enabling patient’s immune system to detect and destroy
cancer.
Source: J Pharm Pract 2021;34:386-396