New anticancer agents: role of clinical pharmacy services

Abstract

Clinical pharmacy (or clinical pharmacy services) aims to contribute to safe medication use by providing comprehensive management to patients and medical staff, both in the community and the hospital. In oncology, these services include comprehensive medication reviews integrating chemotherapy, supportive care and ambulatory treatment for co-morbidities, medication information for the medical staff and patients, therapeutic drug monitoring (anticancer agents, anti-infective agents, immunosuppressive drugs in recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplantation), supportive care counseling (nutritional support, pain management, chemotherapy side-effects prophylaxis and treatment), elaboration of therapeutic guidelines, optimal use of economic resources. With regard to new anticancer agents, pharmacists both in the community and in hospitals are faced with a growing body of complex information as well as the development of ambulatory treatment (oral agents, subcutaneous administration). Clinical pharmacists with oncology training have the potential to optimize drug use both in the hospital and the community. With the understanding and recognition of drug interactions and side-effects, pharmacists can provide timely interventions and information to health providers, as well as counseling to patients.

Keywords: Oncology; anticancer agents; clinical pharmacy; clinical pharmacy services; review.