Anticancer Agents Study Reveals Predictors of Chemotherapy-Related Unplanned Acute Care in Outpatients

A recent study published in Scientific Reports has identified several predictive factors for unplanned acute care (UAC) in outpatients receiving oral anticancer drugs. The research, conducted at the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Chiba, Japan, aimed to identify factors associated with increased risk of UAC, which can lead to treatment delay or interruption, reducing patients' quality of life. The study found that increased blood urea nitrogen concentration and decreased serum sodium concentration were associated with increased UAC risk in cytotoxic drug users, while increased blood creatinine concentration was associated with increased UAC risk in molecular-targeted drug users.

Key Takeaways:

• The study aimed to identify predictive factors for unplanned acute care (UAC) in outpatients receiving oral anticancer drugs at the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Chiba, Japan.
• Increased blood urea nitrogen concentration and decreased serum sodium concentration were identified as factors associated with increased UAC risk in cytotoxic drug users.
• Increased blood creatinine concentration was associated with increased UAC risk in molecular-targeted drug users.
• The study found that UAC often leads to treatment delay or interruption, reducing patients' quality of life.
• The research concluded that these findings may help optimize patient management and reduce UAC rates in outpatient chemotherapy settings.
• The study highlights the importance of early intervention to prevent UAC in outpatients receiving oral anticancer drugs.

Statistics:

• The study was conducted with patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy with oral anticancer drugs at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.
• 34774 is the reference number for the study published in Scientific Reports.
• The study included patients who experienced UAC as cases, and matched controls were selected from those who did not experience UAC.
• Conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals to examine the association between risk factors and UAC onset.

Sources:

• Predictors of chemotherapy-related unplanned acute care in outpatients receiving oral anticancer drugs. Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1):34774.
• National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan.
• Nature Portfolio, Heidelberger Platz 3, Berlin, 14197, Germany.
• Nature Publishing Group - www.nature.com/; Scientific Reports - www.nature.com/srep/
• Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan.