Investigation of tolerability and quality of life for carboplatin-based chemotherapy in an elderly urothelial carcinoma patient undergoing hemodialysis: a case report

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the safety of carboplatin (CBDCA)-based chemotherapy in hemodialysis patients > 80 years-old. In addition, the impact of CBDCA-based chemotherapy on such elderly patients’ quality of life (QOL) is unknown. We report a case of gemcitabine plus CBDCA chemotherapy treatment in an 81-year-old man with metastatic urothelial carcinoma undergoing hemodialysis. CASE PRESENTATION: The optimal CBDCA dose and hemodialysis timing were determined by monitoring the measured area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of CBDCA. This was used because the AUC of CBDCA is correlated with hematologic toxicities, especially nadir thrombocytopenia, and CBDCA is easily dialyzed during hemodialysis. In the first cycle, a 160 mg CBDCA dose, calculated using Calvert’s formula (target-AUC: 5), was administered on day 1. Hemodialysis was performed for 3 h, starting 2 h after the end of the CBDCA infusion. The measured-AUC was 5.96 mg/mL min in the first cycle, after which the patient developed grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities. Thus, in the second cycle, the CBDCA dose was reduced to 135 mg and the time interval between CBDCA infusion and hemodialysis was shortened to 1 h, according to the results of a pharmacokinetic study performed using parameters from the first cycle. The measured-AUC in the second cycle was 4.97 mg/mL min, and hematologic toxic effects decreased to grade 2. Stable disease according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors was demonstrated after the second and third cycles. QOL scores determined using a short-form questionnaire (SF-36) after 2 cycles were not significantly lower than pretreatment values. CONCLUSIONS: CBDCA-based chemotherapy is clinically acceptable in hemodialysis patients aged > 80 years, and this systemic chemotherapy can be a treatment option in such elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, the measured-AUC should be monitored, as the actual AUC is unpredictable in hemodialysis patients. This is due to the influence of various factors that may be different for each patient, such as the patient’s residual renal function and hemodialysis duration and conditions, especially in elderly patients, who have a higher risk of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.