A Comparative Study of Longitudinal Toxicities of Cytotoxic Drugs, Molecularly Targeted Agents, Immunomodulatory Drugs, and Cancer Vaccines

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Oct;106(4):803-809. doi: 10.1002/cpt.1442. Epub 2019 Apr 29.

Abstract

Little is known about the toxicity of various therapeutics for cancer over time because randomized controlled clinical trials that compare several treatments are limited. In this study, we focused on the toxicities most frequently discussed, which are investigations (lab abnormalities), gastrointestinal disorders, skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders, and cardiac disorders, and compared their longitudinal toxicity data among four types of cancer therapeutics. In total, 28,235 patients who were enrolled into 772 early-phase trials to evaluate the monotherapies of cytotoxic drugs, molecularly targeted agents, immunomodulatory drugs, or cancer vaccines were evaluated. For each toxicity, we compared their grade prevalence, mean grade at each cycle, and time to toxicity occurrence and identified the potential underlying similarities and differences of longitudinal toxicities among the four cancer treatment types. Our results will further help in understanding the profile of cancer therapeutic toxicities and their impact on oncology treatment in practice.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / classification
  • Cancer Vaccines / adverse effects*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Cytotoxins / adverse effects*
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions* / classification
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions* / epidemiology
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions* / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects*
  • Long Term Adverse Effects* / chemically induced
  • Long Term Adverse Effects* / classification
  • Long Term Adverse Effects* / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prevalence
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Cytotoxins
  • Immunologic Factors