[Monitoring and evaluation tools for irinotecan and bevacizumab in glioblastoma: from prescription to patient's information]

Bull Cancer. 2012 May;99(5):513-20. doi: 10.1684/bdc.2012.1573.
[Article in French]

Abstract

In 2007, the use of a new therapeutic association that included two expensive drugs (bevacizumab and irinotecan), used in second line treatment for progressive glioblastoma, led to the increase of the monitoring and self-evaluation of the medical prescriptions. Methodological tools have been designed by neuro-oncologists together with pharmacists of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in order to be consistent with the "good use economic contract". Those drugs have not been approved by European authorities in this indication and, moreover, this combination presents adverse effects and contraindications that need to be known by the professionals, the patient and his family. Some documents have been created in order to facilitate prescriptions for neuro-oncologists and others provide monitoring tools for the physicians and nurses. A letter of information targets the patient and his family, another one targets the general practitioner. This is useful for a better coordination between these ones and the hospital. The patient receives a document and a monitoring book in order to inform him about his treatment and help him to prevent and react in time in case of side effects occurrence. Those measures have been designed to put a frame around the prescriptions and to decrease iatrogenic events as well as the economic costs.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / economics
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / economics
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bevacizumab
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / adverse effects
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Camptothecin / economics
  • Contraindications
  • Drug Monitoring / methods
  • Family
  • France
  • General Practice
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan
  • Medical Oncology / methods
  • Off-Label Use
  • Pamphlets
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods*
  • Pharmaceutical Services
  • Pharmacovigilance*
  • Prescription Drugs / economics
  • Prescription Drugs / standards

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Bevacizumab
  • Irinotecan
  • Camptothecin