Many patients on newer oncology treatments at risk for drug interactions

Oral cancer drugs that target key enzymes in tumor cells have made significant contributions to oncology care, freeing many patients from spending long hours at infusion centers to receive their chemotherapy treatments. But new research shows that many patients using these oral medications are also on other drugs that may prevent patients from getting the full benefit from their cancer treatment, or increase the risk of side effects. The study by the Medco Research Institute, the research subsidiary of Medco Health Solutions, Inc., is being presented today at the 2012 American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Annual Meeting. The research found that 23-74 percent of patients taking one of nine oral oncology medications were also on a drug that had the potential to reduce the effectiveness of the cancer treatment or increase its toxicity.