Commonly used databases for identifying drug interactions with oral antineoplastics vary significantly in their sensitivity. Clinicians should not rely on a single database and should consider using multiple resources as well as sound clinical judgment. Further work is needed in this area.
Melanoma-the deadliest form of skin cancer-leads to thousands of deaths each year. Although melanoma is less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, melanoma is more dangerous because it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body, such as lymph nodes, if not diagnosed and treated early. Data from the National Cancer Institute indicate a steady rise in new cases of melanoma and, unfortunately, a steady rate in the number of deaths through 2013. Ninety percent of melanomas are linked to inadequate sun protection from ultraviolet rays or the tanning habits of young adults. Over the past 5 years, however, there have been a variety of new pharmacologic treatments for advanced melanoma including immunotherapy, targeted agents (BRAF and MEK inhibitors), and oncolytic viral therapy. In this article, we review the current literature on the treatment of melanoma, with a focus on emerging therapies.
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma is a heterogenous non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with historically poor outcomes. Currently, response rates remain poor with traditional chemotherapy and many of those responding to initial therapy will relapse. Belinostat (Beleodaq, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) approved for use in relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Belinostat is metabolized hepatically through cytochrome P-450 enzymes 3A4, 2C9, and 2A6; however, no empiric dosage adjustments of belinostat are recommended during concurrent use of inhibitors or inducers of these enzymes. Belinostat's efficacy has been evaluated in a clinical trial showing an overall response rate (ORR) of 25.8% and a median duration of response of 8.4 months. Belinostat is generally well tolerated, with the most common adverse reactions (>25%) being nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pyrexia, and anemia in patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL. Belinostat is a safe and effective treatment option for relapsed and refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma, with many future applications currently being investigated.
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