Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta

Abstract

Efforts to Validate the Applicability of Established Chemotherapy Treatment in Turkish Cancer Patients

Turhal NS, Dane F, Butur S, Kocak M, Telli F, Seber S, Kanitez M, Aktas B and Yumuk PF

Introduction: Incidences of cancer in males and females in Turkey are increasing rapidly. However, current incidences are approximately one third of those found in the developed world. In the European Union, Turkey is the sixth largest spender on cancer care, surpassed only by Spain, England, Italy, France, and Germany. The purpose of our efforts is that since there is much variability in- between different societies, based on drug dosing, and administration protocols solely on the experience of the developed world may be misleading. Therefore since there are various differences including pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, toxicity, and efficacy, the each in every society should carry on their own observations on applicability of various chemotherapeutic agents, and combinations, and should set the standards of their own society based on these experiences. Material and methods: Outcome of our patients treated for Breast, Lung and Colorectal cancer with standard treatment protocols are studied for tolerability and outcome. Two-sided statistical tests were performed on the DFS, OS, and toxicities. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Records of patients who were lost to follow-up or alive at the time of analysis were censored at the last documented visit. The differences in DFS and OS were evaluated using log-rank test, or an unadjusted proportional hazards regression model to assess hazard ratios and their 95% CIs. Results: The tolerability of the studied chemotherapeutic agents and the patient outcome are comparable to what has been reported in reference studies. But there are some considerable differences that need to be taken into count and these differences are discussed in the text. Conclusion: There was considerable variability in tolerance and toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents because of pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenomic variability in Turkish society. Therefore efforts should continue to find easier application schedules, ways and means in countries with less limited resources in cancer care.