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EDITOR’S LETTER
T
he American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting ended this week but reports from the meeting are still appearing in the medical websites and daily newspapers and newscasts. New drugs and drug combinations are showing promise for many types of cancer. As these drugs become available for clinical practice, oncology pharPatrick Medina, macists will be called upon to conPharmD, BCOP fer with other members of the healthcare team and help determine which ones to use in our own practice and how best to use them. We will also have responsibility to educate patients and their caregivers about these new medications or combinations of agents not previously given, how to prevent or manage their possible adverse effects, and their potential for interactions with other drugs or supplements they may be taking. But our job does not end there. Many new therapies come with high costs, and pharmacists will increasingly have to be involved in the discussion of cost-effectiveness
PUBLISHING STAFF Publisher Philip Pawelko phil@greenhillhc.com Editorial Director Karen Rosenberg karen@greenhillhc.com Associate Editor Dawn Lagrosa dawn@greenhillhc.com Director, Client Services John W. Hennessy john@greenhillhc.com Production Manager Stephanie Laudien Business Manager Blanche Marchitto blanche@greenhillhc.com Executive Administrator Andrea Boylston Circulation Department circulation@greenhillhc.com Editorial Contact: Telephone: 732-992-1891 Fax: 732-656-7938
and comparative effectiveness and of practical issues, such as how to ensure reimbursement and minimize waste. Reports from the annual meeting of the Hematology/ Oncology Pharmacy Association provide examples of pharmacists’ approachs to these practical concerns. The Oncology Pharmacist attempts to filter news from ASCO and other major meetings through a pharmacist’s perspective, presenting not only results of large clinical trials but also of smaller studies that do not get as much attention, such as a study of a pharmacist/nurse model for supportive care or of use of computerized physician order entry to reduce prescribing errors. Finally, although many oncology pharmacists are involved in clinical trials and research, there are limited opportunities to publish their results. To help fill this gap, Green Hill Healthcare Communications will launch the Journal of Hematology Oncology Pharmacy later this year. We invite submissions of original research reports, reviews of disease state management and new drugs, case reports, and articles on practical issues in pharmacy management related to the treatment of patients with hematologic or oncologic malignancies. Please send inquiries about manuscript preparation to editorial@greenhillhc.com and look for a call for papers in late summer or early fall. ●
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241 Forsgate Drive, Suite 205C Monroe Twp, NJ 08831 EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE should be addressed to EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, The Oncology Pharmacist®, 241 Forsgate Drive, Suite 205C, Monroe Twp, NJ 08831. Email: editorial@greenhillhc.com. YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and possessions: individuals, $105.00; institutions, $135.00; single issues $17.00. Orders will be billed at individual rate until proof of status is confirmed. Prices are subject to change without notice. Correspondence regarding permission to reprint all or part of any article published in this journal should be addressed to REPRINT PERMISSIONS DEPARTMENT, Green Hill Healthcare Communications, LLC, 241 Forsgate Drive, Suite 205C, Monroe Twp, NJ 08831. The ideas and opinions expressed in The Oncology Pharmacist® do not necessarily reflect those of the Editorial Board, the Editorial Director, or the Publisher. Publication of an advertisement or other product mention in The Oncology Pharmacist® should not be construed as an endorsement of the product or the manufacturer’s claims. Readers are encouraged to contact the manufacturer with questions about the features or limitations of the products mentioned. Neither the Editorial Board nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising out of or related to any use of the material contained in this periodical. The reader is advised to check the appropriate medical literature and the product information currently provided by the manufacturer of each drug to be administered to verify the dosage, the method and duration of administration, or contraindications. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or other healthcare professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine drug dosages and the best treatment for the patient. Every effort has been made to check generic and trade names, and to verify dosages. The ultimate responsibility, however, lies with the prescribing physician. Please convey any errors to the Editorial Director. ISSN #1944-9607. The Oncology Pharmacist is published 8 times a year by Green Hill Healthcare Communications, LLC, 241 Forsgate Drive, Suite 205C, Monroe Twp, NJ 08831. Telephone: 732.656.7935. Fax: 732.656.7938. Copyright ©2010 by Green Hill Healthcare Communications LLC. All rights reserved. The Oncology Pharmacist® logo is a registered trademark of Green Hill Healthcare Communications, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means now or hereafter known, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any informational storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the Publisher. Printed in the United States of America. ®
CONTENTS
June 2010 • VOL 3, nO 4
FEATURE ARTICLES 9 Conference News: HOPA Palonosetron reduces readmissions for CINV in patients receiving IP cisplatin EPO ordering form improves guidelines compliance, saves practices money Oncology pharmacists can significantly reduce chemotherapy waste Standardized forms facilitate COG treatment
11 Breast Cancer Concurrent trastuzumab with chemotherapy beats sequential use for HER2-positive breast cancer Three new drugs on the horizon for HER2-positive breast cancer
14 Continuing Education Active surveillance as a management strategy for low-risk prostate cancer
22 Drug Therapy New treatments for chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Part 2. Eltrombopag
26 Safe Handling National safe handling initiative serves as reminder of need for precautions when handling hazardous drugs
DEPARTMENTS 16 News Notes 18 Oncology Drug Codes Lung cancer
28 International News 28 Financial Planning 29 Meetings
www.TheOncologyPharmacist.com
June 2010 I VOL 3, nO 4
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