Onitilo, Adedayo A

Radiation therapy (RT) is an essential part of the multidisciplinary treatment of pediatric cancer. Over the past five decades, significant advances have been made in the delivery of RT, with better dose delivery to disease targets while minimizing exposure to nearby organs at risk. These advances have led to improved treatment outcomes, increased survival, and reduced treatment-related toxicities. Advanced treatment techniques, however, require significant investment in infrastructural and personnel resources. This review documents what is currently available regarding expertise and infrastructure for pediatric radiation oncology practice in Nigeria. It was performed to serve as a foundation for the creation and design of tailored solutions (initiatives and policies) to increase pediatric radiation availability, accessibility, and equity in Nigeria and ultimately improve pediatric cancer treatment outcomes in the region.

Abstract Purpose A protocol was developed to evaluate the value of an NK-1 receptor antagonist for preventing nausea and vomiting resulting from highly emetogenic chemotherapy when an olanzapine-based antiemetogenic regimen was used. Materials and Methods A221602, a prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, was developed to compare 2 ­olanzapine-containing antiemetic regimens, one with an NK-1 receptor antagonist (aprepitant or fosaprepitant) and one without. Trial patients had a malignant disease for which they received intravenous highly emetogenic chemotherapy (single day cisplatin ≥ 70 mg/m2 or doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide on 1 day). Patients on both arms received commonly administered doses of a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, dexamethasone, and olanzapine. Additionally, patients were randomized to receive an NK-1 receptor antagonist (fosaprepitant 150 mg IV or aprepitant 130 mg IV) or a corresponding placebo. The primary objective was to compare the proportion of patients with no nausea for 5 days following chemotherapy between the 2 study arms. This trial was designed to test for the noninferiority of deleting the NK-1 receptor antagonist, with noninferiority defined as a decrease in freedom from nausea by less than 10%. Results A total of 690 patients were entered on this trial, 50% on each arm. The proportion of patients without nausea for the complete 5-day study period was 7.4% lower (upper limit of the one-sided 95% confidence interval was 13.5%) in the arm without an NK-1 receptor antagonist compared with the arm with an NK-1 receptor antagonist. Conclusion This trial did not provide sufficient evidence to support that deletion of the NK-1 receptor antagonist was as good as keeping it, as a part of a 4-drug antiemetic regimen for highly emetogenic chemotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03578081).

12107 Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), a major adverse effect of cancer treatment, can attenuate life quality. Multiple international antiemetic guidelines have recommended a 4-drug regimen (corticosteroid, 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, NK-1 receptor antagonist, and the antipsychotic medication olanzapine) for decreasing highly emetogenic CINV. This raised a question regarding whether antiemetic therapy regimens for highly emetogenic chemotherapy could be de-intensified, decreasing cost and side effects from anti-emetogenic agents. Methods: Study A221602 was developed to compare two olanzapine-containing antiemetic regimens, one with the use of an NK-1 receptor antagonist (aprepitant or fosaprepitant) and one without. Patients (pts) received intravenous highly emetogenic chemotherapy as either 1) cisplatin, given on one day, at a dose of ≥ 70 mg/m2, with or without other chemotherapy agent(s) or 2) doxorubicin (60 mg/m2) plus cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2) on one day. Pts in both arms received 1) a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (palonosetron 0.25 mg IV or ondansetron 8-16 mg IV or 16-24 mg PO,) on day one, 2) dexamethasone (12 mg PO, day one followed by 8 mg PO, days 2-4), and 3) olanzapine (10 mg/day PO, days 1 to 4). On Day 1, all agents were given prior to chemotherapy, with the exception that olanzapine could be taken prior to chemotherapy or at bedtime. Additionally, pts were randomized to receive an NK-1 receptor antagonist (fosaprepitant 150 mg IV or aprepitant 130 mg IV; 346 pts) or a matching placebo (344 pts). The primary objective was to compare the proportion of patients with no nausea for 5 days following receipt of their chemotherapy between the two study arms. Results: While there was no suggestion of outcome differences on day 1 between the two study arms, fewer pts (7.4%; upper limit of the 95% confidence interval was 13.5%) without NK-1 receptor antagonists were without nausea for the complete 5-day study period. Conclusions: Per the study design, created to exclude a 10% benefit for NK-1 receptor antagonists, the results did not provide sufficient evidence to reject the hypothesis that the 4-drug regimen was superior to the protocol 3-drug regimen (p=0.24). Support: UG1CA189823; Clinical trial information: NCT03578081.