Relative dose intensity of systemic chemotherapy in an outpatient cancer center

Christine Uptigrove, Kari Vavra, Claire Saadeh, Gordan Srkalovic

Abstract


Objective. This study was undertaken to determine the averagerelative dose intensity (RDI) of chemotherapy administeredto patients in a community-based outpatient cancercenter. Methods. A retrospective review of medical recordsin an outpatient cancer center was conducted for patientsinitiating systemic chemotherapy in 2007 for a diagnosis oflymphoma, breast, lung, ovary, or colon cancer. Eighty-fourrecords meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed for demographicinformation, primary tumor type, chemotherapyregimen, staging at diagnosis, presence of disease progression,and mortality status. Regimen data included: chemotherapeuticagents used, dosages administered, dates of administration,treatment intent (adjuvant vs. metastatic), andgranulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) usage percycle. Mean summary statistics were calculated and averageRDI was analyzed. Results. The overall RDI at our institutionwas 83% (n=65). The RDI for those receiving adjuvant chemotherapywas 85% (n=51), whereas for those receiving chemotherapyfor metastatic disease the RDI was 76% (n=14).Fifty-four percent (n=35) of the regimens met or exceededthe recommended minimum goal RDI of > 85%. Conclusions.Overall the average RDI at our institution was 83%,slightly below the goal of ≥ 85%. Patients with potentially curablemalignancies receiving adjuvant chemotherapy reachedthe threshold RDI; however, areas for quality improvementexist at our institution.

Keywords


Drug therapy, Chemotherapy, Dose intensity

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References


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