Chemo toxicities Flashcards
What does the CTCAE categorize?
Adverse reactions to drugs
How often do cancer cells divide?
Every 0.5-2 days
What are the general types of chemotherapy toxicities?
Myelosuppression
GI toxicities
Infertility
What does myelosuppression cause?
Neutropenia
Anemia
Thrombocytopenia
What does GI toxicities cause?
N/V/D/mucositis
Taste changes
What are signs of neutropenia?
Infections
What are signs of anemia?
Fatigue
SOB
What are signs of thrombocytopenia?
Bleeding
Bruising
What are other signs of chemotherapy toxicities?
Alopecia
Rash, hyperpigmentation
Nail changes
What causes a decline in mature blood cells from chemotherapy?
Death of stem cells in the bone marrow
When is the risk of infection highest during chemotherapy?
Absolute Neutrophil Count less than/= to 500 cells
If there is a reduction in hgb, what symptom is increased during chemotherapy?
Fatigue
What level of platelets have an increased risk of bruising and bleeding?
< 50K
When is anticoagulation generally contraindicated for platelets?
< 30K
When do cell counts reach their lowest following chemotherapy?
7-14 days
What is the term for the lowest cell counts?
Nadir
What is supportive care for granulocytes during chemotherapy?
Prophylactic abx
Myeloid Growth Factors (MGF)
What is supportive care for erythrocytes during chemotherapy?
Ruling out other causes of anemia
RBC transfusions when hgb < 7-8
Erythropoetin Stimulating Agents (ESAs)
What is supportive care for platelets during chemotherapy?
Platelet transfusions when platelets < 20,000, or <50,000 in cases of planned surgery
What are MGFs?
-stim = stimulators (all at least SQ) Filgrastim Filgrastim-sndz Tbo-filgrastim Pegfilgrastim Sargramostim
What are the AEs of MGFs?
Mild-severe bone pain
NSAIDs (ibuprofen)
Who should receive MGF?
Pts w/at least a 20% chance of developing neutropenia
When is MGF administered?
Day after chemotherapy
Which MGFs com as an IV infusion?
Filgrastim
Sargramostin
How are MGFs supplied?
Filgrastim: Vial/syringe Filgrastim-sndz: syringe Tbo-filgrastim: syringe Pegfilgrastim: syringe/on-body injector Sargramostim: vial
What deficiency must be repleted before ESA therapy?
Iron
What is the indications for ESAs?
Anemia d/t chemotherapy in cancer patients
Anemia of CKD
Symptomatic anemia secondary to melodysplastic syndrome
When do we initiate ESAs?
Hgb < 10
AND
Chemotherapy anticipated to continue at least 2 months
Continue until completion of chemo
What is the initial dose of erythropoetin?
150U/kg TIQ or 40,000U QW
What is the initial dose of darbepoetin?
2.25 mcg/kg QW
What is the MOA of ESAs?
Induces differentiation of committed erythroid progenitor cells
What are the risks of ESAs?
Cancer progression and shortened overall survival
Increased mortality secondary to venous and arterial thromboembolism
HTN
When are ESAs not recommended?
Patients with anemia secondary to chemotherapy being treated with curative intent
Which agents have the highest risk of infertility?
Non-cell cycle specific:
Alkylating
Anthracyclines
When will men’s sperm production resume?
In 1-4 years
Under what age has the greatest change of egg viability returning to normal?
Under 30 years
How long should women wait before attempting to conceive?
6 months
What are ways to manage infertility during chemotherapy?
Optimal birth control education
Sperm cryopreservation
Embryo/oocyte cryopreservation
Which chemotherapy agents are non-cell cycle specific?
Alkylating agents
Anthracyclines
Antitumor abx
Nitrosureas
What are limitations of non-cell cycle specific medications?
ALL cells are susceptible
Therapeutic w/MANY severe toxic effects
What are common toxic effects of non-cell cycle specific agents?
Myelosupression N/V/mucositis Alopecia Infertility Nail/skin changes
During which phase do antimetabolites work?
S phase - mimic base pairs or inhibit formation of nucleotides, halting DNA replication
During which phase do taxanes and vincas work?
M phase - block the physical separation of cells
What are cell cycle specific agents?
Taxanes and vincas
What are limitations of cell cycle specific agents?
Only affects actively replicating cells Both therapeutic and patient specific/dose dependent toxic effects Myelosuppression N/V/D Infertility (less) Alopecia +/- Nail/skin changes +/-
What frequency are cell cycle specific doses given?
More frequently (daily every 1-2 weeks) or as a continuous infusion
What frequency are non-cell cycle specific doses given?
Less frequently (every 3-4 weeks) and quickly
What can we give for mucositis?
Mouthwashes and rinses
Keratinocyte growth factor
What is the cumulative lifetime dose of doxorubicin?
450mg/m2
What do anthracyclines produce?
Superoxides (free radicals) that damage healthy cardiac tissue
Is LVEF dysfunction d/t anthracyclines reversible?
No
What is agent available for cardioprotection in patients taking anthracyclines?
Dexrazoxane
What are the indications for dexrazoxane?
Prevention of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in metastatic breast cancer patients exceeding life-time dose
Extravasation of any anthracycline agent
What is the MOA of dexrazoxane?
Binds to and sequesters superoxide molecules formed by anthracyclines
What are toxicities from dexrazoxane?
Myelosuppression
N/V
Hepatotoxicity
Injection site pain
What can dexrazoxane increase the risk of?
Cancer metastasis
Where does Bleomycin accumulate?
Lungs
What does bleomycin manifest as and is it reversible?
Pulmonary fibrosis; no
What is the lifetime cumulative dose of Bleomycin?
400 units
What should be monitored monthly with bleomycin?
PFTs
What is the MOA of ifosfamide/ cyclophosphamide?
Produce metabolite acrolein, which binds to and damages bladder cells
How does Nitrogen mustards’ hemorrhagic cystitis manifest?
Frank/microscopic blood in the urine
What is prophylaxis for nitrogen mustards’ hemorrhagic cystitis?
Hydration pre-/post- chemotherapy
Mesna
What is monitored with each dose of ifosfamide?
Urine RBCs
What are the indications of Mesna?
Prophylaxis of ifosfamide (on-label) or cyclophosphamide (off label) induced hemorrhagic cystitis
What is the MOA of Mesna?
Bind to acrolein, minimizing damage caused by the metabolite to the bladder
What are toxicities of Mesna?
Flushing Dizziness Drowsiness Injection site reaction N/V/D/unpleasant taste(PO) Arthralgias Back pain
What lab may falsely be elevated with Mesna?
Ketones