Re: Thyroid Dysfunction from Antineoplastic Agents

Re: Thyroid dysfunction from antineoplastic agents.

In a recent review of thyroid dysfunction induced by antineoplastic agents, Hamnvik et al. (1) highlighted hypothyroidism as a common side effect of certain anticancer agents, an effect with the potential for favorably modifying outcomes in cancer patients. The article indicates that spontaneous or intentionally induced hypothyroidism may be associated with better clinical response rates and lo...

Re: Adherence to therapy with oral antineoplastic agents.

Partridge et al. provided an excellent and timely review on patient compliance issues of prescribed oral therapy (1). This important area merits the attention of every oncology clinician, in view of the increasing number of new oral antineoplastic agents. The review would have been more complete, however, if it had pointed out that pharmacist involvement in patient education is essential in ach...

Occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents and parameters for renal dysfunction.

To study the nephrotoxic effects of occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents, the early renal effect parameters retinol-binding protein (RBP) and albumin (ALB) were determined in the urine of 11 hospital workers involved in the preparation and administration of antineoplastic agents and in 23 hospital workers not involved in drug handling, who served as nonexposed controls. No significant...

Antineoplastic Agents

Antibacterial activities of antineoplastic agents.

Fourteen antineoplastic agents were examined for in vitro antibacterial activity against 101 aerobic and anaerobic bacterial isolates representing indigenous human microflora and selected opportunistic pathogens. Only 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin, and etoposide demonstrated inhibitory effects at achievable plasma concentrations, while the remaining drugs lacked appreciable antibacterial activities.