Keio University · Medicine
Professor Hitoshi Kawazoe's research lab specializes in clinical pharmacology and translational oncology, focusing on optimizing cancer therapy through the investigation of drug interactions, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and individualized treatment strategies. The lab explores biomarkers—particularly peripheral blood cell counts—for predicting toxicity and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and nivolumab. It also investigates drug-drug interactions affecting immunosuppressant and chemotherapy agents, such as tacrolimus and capecitabine, with a strong emphasis on real-world clinical outcomes. The overarching goal is to enhance treatment safety and effectiveness by integrating pharmacokinetic monitoring and patient-specific factors into clinical decision-making.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
<b>Background:</b> Pembrolizumab is currently the standard treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the association between immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and peripheral blood cell counts remains unclear. We aimed at identifying peripheral blood cell counts that may predict the development of pembrolizumab-induced irAEs. <b>Methods:</b> We retrospectively analyzed data on consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who received pembrolizumab monothera
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact by switching co-administered triazole antifungal agent from fluconazole (FCZ) to voriconazole (VCZ) on the blood concentration of tacrolimus (FK506) in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We performed a retrospective study presented as case reports. The blood concentration of FK506 was increased after the switch from FCZ to VCZ, resulting in increase of the concentration/dose (C/D) ratio of FK506. Thus, the mea
The absolute lymphocyte count >820 at 2 weeks following nivolumab initiation predicts early onset of irAEs during a 6-week study period. Routinely available absolute lymphocyte count, which is measured after the initiation of nivolumab, may be useful for identifying patients at risk of early onset of irAEs.
The association between capecitabine efficacy and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is controversial. Here, we determined whether co-administration of PPIs affects the real-world effectiveness of capecitabine. This retrospective observational study included consecutive patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer (CRC) who received adjuvant capecitabine monotherapy or CapeOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) between January 2009 and December 2014 at nine participating institutions. The primary endpoint
The results suggest that severe hematologic toxicities in patients receiving carboplatin-based pemetrexed may be significantly induced by the inhibition of renal tubular pemetrexed secretion through drug-drug interactions between NSAIDs and pemetrexed rather than through glomerular filtration of pemetrexed, even with moderate to sufficient renal function.
These results suggest that assessing renal function to avoid initial overdose of S-1, together with the early management of side effects, may support the continuation of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer.
This study aimed to compare the antiemetic efficacy and safety of a four-drug combination with those of a standard three-drug combination in Japanese patients with breast cancer treated with anthracycline. We retrospectively analyzed data from Japanese patients with breast cancer, who had received their first cycle of anthracycline and were treated with aprepitant, palonosetron, and dexamethasone with or without olanzapine. This retrospective observational study was performed at Ehime University
The effectiveness of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors is unlikely to be affected by concomitant PPI use. Future prospective pharmacokinetic studies are warranted.
Community pharmacies play a significant role in home healthcare. However, patient information from hospitals is not shared with community pharmacies. We attempted the bidirectional sharing of patient information regarding chemotherapy between hospitals and community pharmacies. We developed a “medicine message board,” which was a modified prescription format. Hospital pharmacists recorded information regarding patients taking tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) on the message board. In turn, commun
Our findings suggest that low baseline RBC count, low baseline hematocrit level, and low baseline hemoglobin level might be the patient-associated risk factors for severe anemia induced by olaparib monotherapy. Additionally, <i>BRCA1/2</i> mutation was suggested to be a patient-related risk factor for anemia regardless of severity. Therefore, applying these patient-associated risk factors would help classify and screen patients at risk of severe anemia.
<i>Purpose</i> The therapeutic benefit of a three-drug combination of antiemetics has not been established in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC). The aim of this study was to compare the antiemetic effectiveness and cost-saving of palonosetron plus dexamethasone (control group) with aprepitant, granisetron, and dexamethasone (study group) in cancer patients who received MEC. <i>Methods</i> We switched the standard antiemetic treatment from the control group to the study group in gastrointe
There have so far been few reports of the pharmacokinetics of oxaliplatin in patients with renal impairment. This report describes the nephrotoxicity induced by repeated cycles of oxaliplatin in a Japanese colorectal cancer patient with moderate renal impairment(creatinine clearance(Ccr): 20-30mL/min). The patient was a 77-year-old male who had chronic renal impairment and received the modified FOLFOX6 repeated every 2 weeks. In cycle 8, the blood concentration of oxaliplatin(66 mg/m2)was measur
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