- Cerebrospinal Fluid Penetration of New Antibiotics in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Infections. [Review]Chemotherapy. 2026 Oct 14; :1. [Online ahead of print]C
- CONCLUSIONS: Evidence describing CSF penetration of new antibiotics is limited and largely derived from small pharmacokinetic studies and case reports, predominantly in post-neurosurgical meningitis and ventriculitis. β-Lactams (BL) such as cefiderocol, and the BL/β-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) combinations ceftazidime-avibactam, ceftolozane-tazobactam and sulbactam-durlobactam, have achieved target CSF concentrations in individual cases, particularly with meningeal inflammation and intensive dosing. Predictors of adequate penetration are poorly defined, limiting identification of patients most likely to benefit, and the role of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) remains uncertain. Lipoglycopeptides and newer tetracyclines generally demonstrate low CSF penetration after systemic administration, with sparse clinical data supporting their use.CSF exposure to new antibiotics is highly variable, inconsistently achieves pharmacodynamic targets, and cannot be reliably inferred from plasma concentrations. Limited evidence suggests that BLs and BL/BLI combinations may have utility, whereas newer lipoglycopeptides and tetracyclines do not. Prospective studies and multicentre registries are required to better define CNS exposure, clarify the role of TDM, and inform practice.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Linezolid in Real-World Clinical Practice: Determinants of Exposure, Dose Optimization, and Hematological Toxicity. [Journal Article]Chemotherapy. 2026; 71(1):1-7.C
- CONCLUSIONS: Linezolid exposure shows substantial interindividual variability in hospitalized patients despite standardized dosing. A considerable proportion of patients present subtherapeutic or supratherapeutic concentrations. TDM may help identify patients at risk of underexposure or toxicity and support individualized dosing strategies, particularly in elderly patients and those with renal impairment.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Beyond Conventional Monoclonals: Novel Antibody Formats and Derivatives as the Next Frontier in Cancer Therapy. [Review]Chemotherapy. 2026 Jun 29; :1-24. [Online ahead of print]C
- CONCLUSIONS: Clinical performance is tightly linked to molecular architecture: bsAb/tsAb activity depends on valency, target geometry, and Fc configuration, whereas ADC efficacy reflects a tripartite pharmacology integrating target engagement, intracellular payload release, and bystander cytotoxicity. Despite their remarkable potency, antibody-based platforms remain vulnerable to resistance, which may arise through target-dependent mechanisms, including antigen downregulation and epitope masking, or target-independent processes, such as altered intracellular trafficking, lysosomal dysfunction, payload efflux, and adaptive survival signaling.A comprehensive understanding of antibody architecture, target biology, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic behavior, toxicity profiles, and resistance mechanisms is essential to optimize treatment selection and sequencing. Collectively, mAbs, bsAbs/tsAbs, and ADCs provide the mechanistic and technological basis for next-generation platforms, including peptide-drug conjugates and antibody-radionuclide conjugates.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Pseudoprogression of a Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. [Case Reports]Chemotherapy. 2026; 71(1):1-6.C
- CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of potential pseudoprogression is crucial for clinicians managing advanced cSCC with cemiplimab.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Clinical Feasibility of Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Followed by Avelumab Maintenance after Enfortumab Vedotin plus Pembrolizumab in Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Case Series. [Case Reports]
- <p>Introduction: The introduction of enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab (EVP) has caused a paradigm shift in the first-line treatment strategies for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). However, no standard subsequent therapy has been established after EVP therapy, and the role of platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) followed by avelumab maintenance therapy remains unclear. Case Presentation: W…
- PMC Free PDF
- Efficacy and Safety Study of Different Doses of Linezolid in Combination with Bedaquiline in the Treatment of Drug-Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis. [Journal Article]Chemotherapy. 2026; 71(1):1-9.C
- CONCLUSIONS: Initial daily linezolid dose of 600 mg and 1,200 mg in combination with bedaquiline yields equivalent efficacy for drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. The lower dose demonstrates improved tolerability. For the said therapy, we advocate a primary recommendation of a daily linezolid dose of 600 mg.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Can Model-Informed Precision Dosing of Beta-Lactams in Critical Care Improve Clinical Outcomes? [Review]
- <p>Background: Critically ill patients exhibit acute physiological changes leading to marked antibiotic exposure variability and an increased probability of either subtherapeutic or potentially toxic exposures. Beta-lactam antibiotics are often affected by these physiological changes, leading to variable and often subtherapeutic exposures. Therefore, methods to increase the probability of a thera…
- PMC Free PDF
- Expression of Concern. [Editorial]
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Drug-Drug Interaction between Toosendanin and Tamoxifen and Its Potential Mechanism. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that toosendanin alters the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen, likely by inhibiting its metabolic stability and CYP2D6 activity. This interaction leads to a potentially significant pharmacokinetic risk when toosendanin is co-administered with tamoxifen, potentially potentiating its exposure.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Novel Insights into Epiploic Appendagitis in a Breast Cancer Patient on Abemaciclib: A Case Report. [Case Reports]
- CONCLUSIONS: This case is the first of its kind to propose a novel association between the use of targeted therapies such as abemaciclib and the development of inflammatory conditions such as epiploic appendagitis. It emphasises the crucial role of clinical suspicion and appropriate imaging in establishing this rare diagnosis. Further research is warranted to explore potential links between CDK4/6 inhibitors and the development of epiploic appendagitis.
- PMC Free PDF
- Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: A Driver to Precision Medicine for Patients with Hematological Malignancies. [Review]Chemotherapy. 2025; 70(4):193-199.C
- CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) measures drug exposure and thereby helps to adjust the dose of a drug to maintain its concentration within a target range. It is frequently applied for drugs with characteristics like PK variability or narrow therapeutic window, among others, to ensure optimal therapeutic outcome while minimizing adverse effects. Many molecular targeted agents (MTAs) for malignancies, especially tyrosine kinase inhibitors, exhibit significant variability in exposure, and yet are still dosed with a "one-size-fits-all" approach. While this is partially culprit to regulatory approval requirements of MTA, it contradicts principles of targeted therapy. PK/PD variability necessitates a personalized approach to dosing in order to optimize therapeutic outcomes and minimize toxicity. TDM provides an avenue to refine dosing strategies based on individual patient characteristics.Through incorporation of TDM, treatment of hematological malignancies could move toward target concentration-driven dosing in clinical trials and regulatory frameworks. Establishing target concentrations for MTA requires solid exposure-response and exposure-toxicity analyses in the population of interest. To establish such reference ranges, large populational analyses are necessitated, underlining the importance of the incorporation of such endpoints into phase III trials. Economic restrictions, sample transportation logistics, turnaround times, and interpretation may hinder the application of a TDM-guided dosing approach in routine care. Ultimately, personalized TDM-guided dosing could improve patient outcomes and quality of life through minimizing toxicity.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Role of a Therapeutic Drug Monitoring-Guided Strategy of Isavuconazole for Optimizing Efficacy/Safety Outcomes in Onco-Hematological Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review. [Systematic Review]Chemotherapy. 2025; 70(4):163-176.C
- CONCLUSIONS: Despite limited findings, our systematic review may support a potential role for a TDM-guided strategy in optimizing isavuconazole exposure among onco-hematological pediatric patients, particularly considering both the non-negligible proportion of cases who failed in attaining optimal exposure with standard dosing regimens.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Modulates Therapeutic Responses in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. [Review]
- CONCLUSIONS: The present review illustrated genetic molecules or signaling pathways controlled by the UPR and investigates their influence on liver cancer drugs. Moreover, the review also summarizes the partial effects of UPR, including lipid droplet formation and inflammatory stimulation, and their roles in HCC development and drug resistance, respectively.Unraveling and targeting ER stress provide potential therapeutic strategies for HCC treatment.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)
- Carnitine Levels Decrease during Oxaliplatin Infusion: A Pilot Study. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: The altered plasma and urinary concentrations of carnitine support our hypothesis that oxaliplatin causes increased renal excretion of carnitine, thereby lowering blood-carnitine levels and increasing urinary carnitine levels. With continued loss of carnitine over several chemotherapy cycles, this may result in the development of carnitine deficiency, which could contribute to the development of CIPN. These preliminary results provide a basis for hypothesis generation; larger longitudinal studies are required to confirm these findings and to determine the clinical relevance. </p>.
- PMC Free PDF
- Aerobic Exercise Alleviates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Inhibition of Ferroptosis. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, this study demonstrates that aerobic exercise alleviates DIC via the inhibition of ferroptosis.
- Publisher Full Text (DOI)