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Pharmacology Projects

Therapeutic drug monitoring for the treatment of childhood cancer patients.

We have worked in therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for several years.

The utility of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) relates to the measurement of drug levels in biological samples. This can then be used to individualise patient treatment through drug dose changes. The aim is to to improve drug efficacy and/or reducing toxicity.

We have identified childhood cancer patient subpopulations who benefit from TDM treatment approaches with specific, commonly-used chemotherapeutics. These patients include:

  • pre-term infants and neonates
  • anephric patients
  • patients receiving high dose chemotherapy
Pharmacology
Pharmacology projects figure

Associated publications

Barnett S, Kong J, Makin G, Veal GJ. Over a decade of experience with carboplatin therapeutic drug monitoring in a childhood cancer setting in the United KingdomBr J Clin Pharmacol 2020 (In press)

Hawley J, Veal GJ, Errington J, McDonald LG, Tweddle DA. The use of pharmacokinetically guided carboplatin chemotherapy in a pre-term infant with neuroblastoma associated spinal cord compressionPed Blood Cancer 2019 e27825 1-3

Thomas F, Veal GJ, El Balkhi S, Lafont T, Picard N, Brugieres L, Chatelut E, Piguet C. Therapeutic drug monitoring and dose adaptation of cisplatin in a newborn with hepatoblastoma: a case reportCancer Chemother Pharmacol 2018 82: 361-365

Veal GJ, Errington J, Sastry J, Chisholm J, Brock P, Morgenstern D, Pritchard-Jones K, Chowdhury T. Adaptive dosing of anticancer drugs in neonates – facilitating evidence-based dosing regimensCancer Chemother Pharmacol 2016 77: 685-692

Veal GJ, Errington J, Hayden J, Hobin D, Murphy D, Dommett RM, Tweddle DA, Jenkinson H, Picton S. Carboplatin therapeutic monitoring in preterm and full-term neonatesEur J Cancer 2015 51: 2022-2030

Bardin C, Veal G, Paci A, Chatelut E, Astier A, Leveque D, Widmer N, Beijnen J. Therapeutic drug monitoring in cancer – Are we missing a trick? Eur J Cancer 2014 50: 2005-2009

Veal GJ, Errington J, Rowbotham SE, Illingworth NA, Malik G, Cole M, Daly AK, Pearson ADJ, Boddy AV. Adaptive dosing approaches to the individualization of 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin) treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastomaClin Cancer Res 2013 19: 469-479