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Trois types de médicaments anticancéreux systémiques sont utilisés pour traiter les cancers du sein, la chimiothérapie cytotoxique, l'hormonothérapie et les thérapies ciblées, d'usage plus récent. L'équipe officinale doit maîtriser les notions essentielles concernant ces traitements pour assurer une dispensation de qualité. Three types of systemic anticancer drugs are used for the treatment of breast cancer, cytotoxic chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapies, of more recent use. The pharmacy team must be familiar with the basics of these treatments to ensure quality dispensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The incidence and clinical characteristics of adverse pulmonary reactions resulting from anticancer monoclonal antibody (mAbs) therapy have not been well described. We determined the incidence and clinical characteristics of adverse pulmonary reactions in patients treated with anticancer chemotherapy including mAbs. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed including patients who were treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen that included rituximab, trastuzumab, cetuximab, or bevacizumab at Seoul National University Hospital between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2008. Rates of adverse pulmonary reactions classified as non-infectious and infectious complications were compared with those among patients treated with comparable regimens without mAbs. Results: In total, 1078 patients were included (418 for rituximab, 329 for trastuzumab, 122 for cetuximab, 209 for bevacizumab). Adverse pulmonary reactions were identified in 36 patients (3.5%) and the incidence differed among agents: cetuximab (9%), rituximab (5.3%), trastuzumab (0.6%), bevacizumab (0.5%). Infectious pulmonary complications occurred in 28 patients, and eight patients experienced non-infectious pulmonary complications, most commonly interstitial lung disease (6 patients). In a multivariate analysis, low serum albumin level was associated with the development of pulmonary complications. The incidence of overall adverse pulmonary reactions did not differ between the mAbs users and the 1012 patients treated with comparable regimens other than mAbs (3.5% vs. 2.8%, P =0.53). Conclusions: Infectious and non-infectious adverse pulmonary reactions occur in patients with cancer who are administered a regimen including mAbs. Clinicians should be alert for the possibility of pulmonary adverse reactions, particularly among patients with low serum albumin levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cutaneous toxicities associated with the administration of chemotherapy in combination are discussed. Rapidly growing cells are the targets of chemotherapy, so the skin, hair follicles, and nail matrix are frequently affected by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy skin reactions are more likely toxic than allergic reactions. There are numerous chemotherapy-induced cutaneous reactions that have been described in the literature. In addition to a variety of miscellaneous reactions, 19 major cutaneous reactions were discussed in current study. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical spectrum of all cutaneous toxicities over two years in hospitalized and ambulatory patients in the Department of Pediatric oncology and to establish probable relationship between the reaction and suspected anticancer protocol with the help of WHO (World Health Organization) Common Toxicity Criteria by Grade. The data on the cutaneous toxicities were analyzed by percentile and ranking method. The minimal (0.8%) cutaneous adverse effects monitored during the study were Petechiae, photosensitivity, pruritis, urticaria, wound-infection, erythema multiforme, hand-foot skin reaction, injection site reaction, dry skin. Alopecia was the single most common (64.3%) adverse effect observed during the study, where as the pigmentary changes were the second most common (18.2%) adverse effect monitored. While these side effects are generally not life threatening, they can be a source of significant distress to patients, especially alopecia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 51-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of pneumonia after chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide for left breast cancer. The patient was diagnosed with Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary infection by the detection of M. abscessus complex (MABC) in sputum cultures. However, MABC is intrinsically resistant to most of the antibacterial agents, and MABC pulmonary disease outcomes with modern antibiotic treatment are currently the worst among all mycobacterial species. We herein report the successful treatment of M. abscessus pulmonary infection by a combination treatment with antibiotics and surgical lung resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]