Exam 2 Oncology Flashcards
Anticipatory Nausea/Vomiting
- learned response conditioned by severity and duration of previous emetic reactions from prior cycles of chemo
- can be provoked by sight, sound, or smell
Acute Nausea/Vomiting
- usually within 24 hours of receiving chemo
Delayed Nausea/Vomiting
- occurs > 24 hours following completion of chemo
- NK-1 receptor and substance P binding
Breakthrough Nausea/Vomiting
- occurs even if on scheduled anti-emetics prior to chemo
Refractory
- nausea/vomiting that persists despite appropriate anti-emetics
- failed other therapies
Receptor involved in Nausea/Vomiting
chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ)
Nausea
the inclination to vomit or as a feeling in the throat or epigastric region alerting an individual that vomiting is imminent
Wretching
the labored movement of abdominal and thoracic muscles before vomiting
Vomiting
the ejection or forced expulsion of gastric contents through the mouth
Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy
- > 90% Frequency of Emesis
- Level 5
- cisplatin
Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy
- > 30 - 90% frequency of emesis
- level 3-4
Low Emetic Risk
- 10-30% frequency of emesis
- level 2
Minimial Emetic Risk
- < 10% frequency of emesis
- level 1
Combination Chemotherapy Emetogenic Risk
- level 1 and 2 agents do not contribute to the emetogenicity of the regiment
- adding level 3-4 agents increases the emetogenicity of the combination regimen by 1 level per agent
Risk Factors for CINV
- women > men
- younger patients > older patients
- prior history of motion sickness
- previous CINV tend to do worse
- anxiety/high pretreatment anticipation of nausea
- chronic ethanol can be protective
Prophylaxis for acute N/V is based on what?
emetogenic potential of chemotherapy
Highly Emetogenic: Regimen A
- NK-1 antagonist ( -pitant)
- Dexamethasone
- 5-HT3 antagonist (-setron)
- Olanzapine
Highly Emetogenic: Regimen B
- Olanzapine
- Palonosetron
- Dexamethasone
- +/- lorazepam 0.5 mg-2mg po or iv or sublingual every 4-6 hours PRN
- +/- H2 blocker or PPI
Highly Emetogenic: Regimen C
- NK-1 antagonist
- steroid
- 5-HT3 antagonist
- +/- lorazepam 0.5 mg-2mg po or iv or sublingual every 4-6 hours PRN
- +/- H2 blocker or PPI
Moderately Emetogenic: Regimen A
- Dexamethasone
- 5HT3 antagonist
- +/- lorazepam 0.5 mg-2mg po or iv or sublingual every 4-6 hours PRN
- +/- H2 blocker or PPI
Moderately Emetogenic: Regimen B
- Olanzapine
- Palonosetron
- Dexamethasone
- +/- lorazepam 0.5 mg-2mg po or iv or sublingual every 4-6 hours PRN
- +/- H2 blocker or PPI
Moderately Emetogenic: Regimen C
- NK-1 Antagonist
- Dexamethasone
- 5-HT3 Antagonist
- +/- lorazepam 0.5 mg-2mg po or iv or sublingual every 4-6 hours PRN
- +/- H2 blocker or PPPI
Low Emetogenic Regimens
- PICK ONE
- Dexamethasone
- Metoclopramide +/- diphenhydramine
- Prochlorperazine
- 5-HT3 Antagonist
- +/- lorazepam 0.5 mg-2mg po or iv or sublingual every 4-6 hours PRN
- +/- H2 blocker or PPPI
Breakthrough Nausea and Vomiting Treatment
- PICK ONE
- Haloperidol
- Metoclopramide +/- diphenhydramine
- prochlorperazine
- promethazine
- olanzapine
- benzodiazepines
- cannabinoids
- 5-HT3 antagonist
- dexamethasone
- scopolamine
Delayed Nausea/Vomiting Treatment
- One of the following
- Dexamethasone
- NK-1 antagonist
- olanzapine
Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting Treatment
- optimal antiemetic therapy during every cycle of treatment
- behavioral
- acupuncture/acupressure
- lorazepam
Oral Chemo High to Moderate Emetogenic Risk
- start before chemo and continue daily
- 5-HT3 antagonists
Oral Chemo Low to Minimal Emetogenic Risk
- start before chemo and maybe given daily or as needed
- metoclopramide
- 5-HT3 antagonists
Total Body Irradiation Emesis Pretreatment
- start for each day of radiation
- granisetron PO +/- dex
- ondansetron PO +/- dex
Common Toxicities: 5-HT3 Antagonists
- headache (not class effect)
- asymptomatic and transient EKG changes at max doses
- constipation
- increased transaminases
Common Toxicities: Corticosteroids
- anxiety
- euphoria
- insomnia
- hyperglycemia
- increased appetite
Common Toxicities: Substance P Antagonists
- hiccups
- worry about drug interactions
Common Toxicities: Dopamine Antagonists (chlorpromazine, haloperidol, metoclopramide)
- EPS
- diarrhea
- sedation
Common Toxicities: Olanzapine
- dystonic reactions
- sedation
Common Toxicities: Phenothiazines (prochlorperazine, promethazine)
- sedation
- akathesia
- dystonia
- IV promethazine = tissue damage
Common Toxicities: Cannibanoids
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- euphoria
- mood changes
- hallucinations
- increased appetite
Common Toxicities: Benzos
- sedation
- hypotension
- urinary incontinence
- hallucinations
Common Toxicities: Scopolamine
- anticholinergic side effects
When are anti-emetics most effective?
- prophylaxis
- 5-30 minutes prior to chemo and around-the-clock until chemo is complete
- provide PRN agents for breakthrough
Mucositis Progression
- paralleles the neutrophil nadir and begins on day 5 to 7 after chemotherapy and improves as the neutrophil count increases
Mucositis: continuous infusions __ short IV infusions
>
Risk factors for mucositis?
- pre-existing oral lesions
- poor dental hygiene or ill-fitting dentures
- patients receiving both chemo and radiation
Mucositis: Diet Recommendations
- avoid rough food, spices, salt, acidic fruit
- mainly eat soft or liquid foods, nonacidic fruits, soft cheeses, and eggs
- avoid smoking and alcohol
Mucositis: Pretreatment
- baking soda rinses BID-QID
- soft bristled toothbrush to minimize gingival irritation
- saliva sub for radiation induced xerostomia
Mucositis: Oral Cryotherapy
- vasoconstriction may decrease chemotherapy delivery to the oropharyngeaal mucosa
- use of ice chips 30 minutes prior to 5-FU doses has been shown to decrease mucositis incidence
Mucositis: Sucralfate
- forms protective barrier
- swish and swallow (1 gm PO QID) has been shown in some trials to significantly decrease pain
- some patients find the taste and texture of sucralfate to be nauseating; not good data to support use
Mucositis: Oral and PR Opioids
- moderate to severe mucositis
- many oral solutions contain a high percentage of alcohol, which may burn
- best administered around the clock
- PCA is common
Neutropenia: WBCs
- < 0.5 x 10^3/uL
- risk of life-threatening infections
Neutropenia: Platelets
- thrombocytopenia = < 100 x10^3/uL
- risk of bleeding increases when platelet count is ≤ 20 x 10^3/uL and therefore may require transfusion
Neutropenia: RBCs
- anemia
- risk of hypoxia and fatigue
- Hgb z, 11 g/dL or >2g/dL drop from baseline should undergo work-up
What is the most common dose-limiting toxicity of chemo?
bone marrow suppression
What is the nadir?
- the absolute neutrophil count or ANC
- the lowest value the blood counts fall to during a cycle of chemotherapy
- occurs 10-14 days after chemo administration
- counts usually recover by 3 to 4 weeks after chemo
Guidelines to administer chemo safely in patient’s with neutropenia
- WBC > 3000 OR
- ANC of >1500 AND
- Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10^3/uL
Severe Neutropenia
- ANC < 0.5 x 10^3/uL
Febrile Neutropenia Definition
- ANC < 0.5 x 10^3/uL AND
- single oral temp > 101ºF or ≥ 100.4ºF for at least an hour
- other signs/symptoms of infection are absent with fever being the only reliable indicator
Prophylactic Use of CSFs
decreased
- incidence of febrile neutropenia
- LOS
- confirmed infections
- Duration of antibiotics
When to administer primary CSF prophylaxis?
- if the patient is to receive a chemo regiment that is expected to cause ≥ 20% incidence of febrile neutropenia
High Risk Patients of FN
- preexisting neutropenia due to disease
- extensive prior chemo
- previous irradation to the pelvis or other areas containing large amounts of bone marrow
Secondary Prophylaxis using CSF
- patient experienced a neutropenic complication from a previous cycle of chemo and you want to prevent that again
- use a CSF preventatively with the next cycle of chemo
Other Uses for CSFs
- support patients through dose dense chemo
- can be used alone, after chemo, or in combination with plerixafor to mobilize peripheral blood progenitor cells
- after a stem cell transplant to reduce the duration of severe neutropenia
- guidelines for pediatric use are available and should be followed
Filgrastim (Neupogen) G-CSF and Sargramostim (Leukine) GM-CSF
- dose dependent elevation in ANCE
- rapid drop in WBC and neutrophil count following discontinuation
Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta)
- non-linear PK
- clearance increases with increasing neutrophil count
- longer half life
- much more expensive
Filgrastim: Dosing
- start up to 3-4 days after completion of chemo and continue until post-nadir ANC recovery to normal or near normal levels
- 5 mcg/kg/day
- come in 300 and 480 mcg single use vials (round dose to the nearest vial size)
Pegfilgrastim: Dosing
- start at least 24 hours after chemo and can be given up to 3-4 days after chemo (same day administration is not recommended)
- 6 mg SQ x 1 dose
GSF Adverse Effects
- flu like symptoms
- bone and joint pain due to rapid proliferation of the bone myeloid cells
- DVT
- splenic enlargement with long term CSF use
General Causes of Anemia
- decreased RBC production
- decreased erythropoietin production (renal dysfunction)
- decreased body stores of b12, iron, folic acid
- blood loss
Significance of Anemia in Cancer
- fatigue
- low hemoglobin correlated with poor performance status –> decreased survival
- decreased quality of life
Treatment of Chemo Induced Anemia
- if the patient is symptomatic
- tranfuse as indicated
- consider ESA (not indicated for patients receiving myelosuppressive chemo when anticipated outcome is cure)
- iron studies
ESAs are not recommended when:
- curative intent
- patients not receiving chemo
- patients receiving non-myelosuppressive chemo
Epoeitin Alpha Clinical Pearls
- if the Hgb increases > 1 g/dL in a 2-week period, the dose should be decreased by 25% for epoetin alpha and 40% for darbepoeitin
- Starting dose: TID SQ
- maintenence: Weekly SQ
Darbepoetin Clinical Pearls
- Starting Dose: weekly
- Maintenence: every 3 weeks
Iron in Anemic Cancer Patients
- all oncology patients who are prescribed ESA therapy should have baseline iron studies performed
- serum ferritin, iron, iron sat
- Iron Dextran, Iron Sucrose, Ferric Gluconate
Chemos that cause Myalgias/Arthralgias
- Taxanes
- ARs
Treatment for myalgias/arthralgias
- nsaids
- maya require opioids
Chemos that cause hemorrhagic cytitis
- high dose cyclophos
- ifosfamide
Treatment for hemorrhagic cystitis
- hydration (prevention)
- mesna (used to prevent)
Chemos that cause HF
- anthracyclines
- high dose cyclophosphamide
- trastuzumab (other HER2 targeted therapies)
Treatment of HF
- monitor cumulative dose
- assess for risk factors
- dexrazoxane (chemoprotectant)
Chemos that cause peripheral neuropathy
- taxanes
- vinca alkaloids
- platinums
Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy
- change infusion rate (ie paclitaxel)
- adjunctive pain medications (gabapentin, amitriptyline)
Chemos that cause pulmonary toxicities
- bleomycin
Treatment of pulmonary toxicities
- corticosteroids (no good treatment once it happens)
Mesna
- should be used with standard ifosfamide doses of < 2.5 g/m2/day to decreas risk of hemorrhagic cystitis
Cardiac Toxicity
- formation of iron-dependent oxygen free radicals due to stable AC-iron complexes, which cause catalysis of electron transfer
Type I Chemo Related Cardiac Dysfunction: Acute
- occurs immediately after a single dose or course of therapy with AC
- may involve abnormal ECG findings
- not related to cumulative dose and is uncommon
Type I Chemo Related Cardiac Dysfunction
- onset usually within a year of receiving AC therapy
- rapid onset and progression
- common and life threatening
- related to cumulative dose patient received
Type I Chemo Related Cardiac Dysfunction: Late- onset
- develops several years or even decades after therapy
- manifests as ventricular dysfunction, CHF, conduction disturbances, and arrhythmias
- pediatric cancer survivors who received AC
Which drug causes Type II Chemo Related Cardiac Dysfunction?
Trastuzumab
Type II Chemo Related Cardiac Dysfunction
- appears to be largely reversible and short lived
- lower incidence in non-AC treated patients
- if trastuzumab given with AC, incidence can increase up to 27% cardiac toxicity (NYHA class III/IV)
Assessment of Pain
O: onset
P: provokes
Q: quality
R: radiate
S: severe
T: time
U: understanding
Principles of Pain Management
- understand the cause of pain
- regular administration of around the clock agents combined with PRN agents
- individualized therapy
- necessary to monitor for therapeutic and adverse effects
- use the lowest dose necessary
- pain assessment is subjective