Introduction Drug interactions involving everolimus are fairly well known because of its common use, primarily as an immunosuppressant. Several recommendations regarding therapeutic drug monitoring are also available for the use of everolimus-based immunosuppression regimens. However, everolimus use in oncology differs substantially, particularly because of the high doses involved. Therapeutic drug monitoring, although sometimes necessary, is not recommended as a routine in oncology. Thus, it was deemed inapplicable due to the lack of clear recommendations. Case report Here, we present a case where a patient was prescribed everolimus for renal cell carcinoma. The patient benefitted from a pharmaceutical consultation prior to treatment initiation, and a drug interaction with verapamil was suspected. Management and outcome: Therapeutic drug monitoring of everolimus was proposed. Based on the everolimus values reported in the literature, trough plasma concentration in the patient was greatly increased. The patient was then diagnosed with grade 4 oral mucositis, thereby requiring temporary suspension of everolimus treatment. Management of adverse effects was performed through multiple medicated mouthwashes. Discussion Therapeutic drug monitoring for everolimus is important for potential drug interactions or the occurrence of severe adverse events. In such cases, dose adjustments should be managed according to everolimus plasma concentrations. Clear oncological recommendations regarding plasma everolimus thresholds are required for a successful follow-up of the patient’s condition and to ensure adequate response to treatment.
The treatment of leptomeningeal metastasis is based on protocols linking systemic chemotherapies and intrathecal injections of antineoplastic agents. Since the late 1960s, cases of accidental intrathecal injections of vinca-alkaloids, which have almost always proved fatal, have been documented. The most concerned countries, supported by the WHO, have published numerous recommendations aimed at reducing this type of risk. The aim of our work was to improve safety procedures for the intrathecal administration of antineoplastic drugs in an oncology hospital: the Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France. To this end, we compiled and analyzed a total of eight international recommendations. Our method was to meet the requirements of the AFSSAPS (French agency for the safety of health products), then to adopt recommended procedures in other countries, where appropriate. We considered the whole drugs circuit from prescription to administration. Improvements basically focused on the computerization of prescription, the dilution in mini-bags of vinca-alkaloids, and the additional labeling of intrathecally administered preparations as well as those with some vinca-alkaloids. This multidisciplinary approach to improve our practices complements the precautions taken by healthcare teams.
AbstractMany chemotherapeutic compounding units are confronted with the problem of product delivery to different care wards. We think that transport by a pharmacy agent does not permit appropriate traceability (wrong care service delivery), control of storage temperature and management of urgency. We have developed a delivery system based on the association of a pneumatic transport system (PTS) and monitored buffer storage area. Thus, after pharmaceutical inspection, chemotherapies are placed in specific and hermetic carriers in the PTS but not directly delivered to care units. In the monitored buffer storage, a robotic arm organizes chemotherapies and waits for the nurse call just before administration. This system permits a real traceability for each stage of the chemotherapy circuit and so, we are now able to certify that chemotherapeutics have been maintained at the correct temperature through continual monitoring. It’s an important prerequisite in standardization and reassignment. Finally, an important issue linked to the use of PTS is the risk of damaging the chemotherapeutics. Data obtained from literature and manufacturers for antibodies highlight the low risk to use a PTS.
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