Factors associated with chemotherapy toxicity in outpatients: a cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: to identify the occurrence of toxicity associated with chemotherapy and predictors factors of hospitalization, delayed treatment, abandonment, treatment suspension or death. Methods: 126 patients with cancer were in a prospective cohort study, conducted between July/2012 and january/2013, they were interviewed before treatment and after completion of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycles, when clinical, demographic and laboratory data were collected. Results: 39,7% had toxicity grade ≥ 3. The latter led to more hospitalization, suspension, delayed treatment and death (p<0,05). Performance status 2 in cycles 1 (p<0,001) and 2 (p=0,025) were risk factors to the toxicity grade ≥ 3. When studied variables prior to first chemotherapy cycle, the body surface area < 1,69 m² was associated with the occurrence of toxicity grade ≥ 3 (p=0,023) and with anemia (p=0,044) and thrombocytopenia (p=0,006) of any grade. Creatinine clearance < 50mL/min was associated with anemia (p=0,032), BMI < 18,5kg/m² with thrombocytopenia (p=0,012), lymphocytes < 1500/mm³ to leukopenia (p=0,017), neutrophils < 3100/mm³ to neutropenia (p=0,002) and leukopenia (p<0,001), all of any toxicity grade. Conclusion: Approximately 40% of patients had toxicity grade ≥ 3, motivating more hospitalization, suspension, delayed treatment and death. Performance status 2 and body surface area < 1,69 m² were related toxicity grade ≥ 3.

Extraction, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Activity of Piperine in Its Isolated form and in Combination with Chemotherapeutics against Gastric Cancer

“…One of the main disadvantages of current chemotherapy for gastric cancer is the increased toxicity of drugs, especially at high concentrations [ 96 , 97 ]. Therefore, evaluating new substances able to increase their effects at lower doses would eventually reduce this toxicity [ 98 , 99 , 100 ]. The combination of drugs in cancer therapy is a valuable treatment modality, as it increases the effectiveness of drugs, seeking to act on the main pathways in a synergistic or additive way [ 101 ].…”