Laboratory monitoring in oncology

Abstract

Laboratory monitoring assists the pharmacist in the monitoring of chemotherapy. A general understanding of common tests used in cancer therapy and knowledge specific to drugs used can help the pharmacist tailor drug therapy monitoring.

Effect of R-CHOP chemotherapy on liver and mediastinal blood pool 18F-FDG standardized uptake values in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

“…Zaky et al have stated that patients treated with R-CHOP chemotherapy had a high incidence of hepatic toxicity [21]. Serum AST and ALT are the most commonly used transaminases in clinical settings and they are sensitive indicators of liver damage [22]. In cases of liver damage, the AST level may increase to 10-20 times the normal value [22].…”

Differences Value of Blood Urea Nitrogen and Creatinine Serum in Cervical Cancer Squamous Cell Stadium Iib-Iiib Before and After Chemotherapy Paclitaxel Cisplatin for Six Cycle in Sanglah General Hospital Denpasar Bali

“…Thus, the level of patients' protein intake would also affect their BUN value. Besides that, BUN value is also affected by liver because liver is responsible for the conversion of amino acid into urea [3]. [12].…”

“…BUN test, which measures urea nitrogen, is utilized as the index indicator of glomerulus function in producing and excreting urea. Consequently, BUN measurement would be the indicator of kidney function [3].…”

“…Nephrotoxic effect by cisplatin agent could be monitored from the value of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine serum used as the indicator of the patients' kidney function. The increase of BUN level and creatinine serum in patients could be utilized to assess the degree of kidney dysfunction as the side effect of chemotherapy [3]. Thus, the focus of this research would be to determine whether or not there is a toxicity difference in patients' kidney function indicated by creatinine serum and BUN before the first chemotherapy series and after the sixth chemotherapy series.…”

Implementation and Assessment of a Pharmacy Educational Program Concerning Laboratory Monitoring for Medications

“…Other institutions have identified the need for education about laboratory tests for pharmacists and have designed educational programs to address that requirement. 16 However, the literature currently lacks evidence that providing such a program in the hospital setting leads to improvements in pharmacist knowledge and patient care outcomes. Since these changes in practice have come into effect in New Brunswick, the province's hospitals also have been working to develop policies that would give pharmacists the ability to further utilize their skills in this area.…”