United States: Although the shortage of Cisplatin and Carboplatin in the United States has been reduced, a new report has revealed that some of the largest cancer centers in the country admit to facing an additional shortage of certain drugs.
More about the news
A survey results indicated that 89 percent of the 28 large cancer centers across the nation last month confessed that a cancer drug used to treat the disease or its symptoms or address the impact of treatment was on drug shortage in their center, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) revealed on Wednesday.
That percentage remains rather high today. The year before, 86 percent of the surveyed centers said they faced a shortage of at least one type of anti-cancer drug. However, the shift that has occurred is in regard to which cancer drugs are affected, as the CNN Health reported.
What more has the survey revealed?
The survey was conducted starting on May 28 till June 11 of the current year and according to the survey among 33 cancer centers of the NCCN, 28 of them which are above half do not have the chemotherapy drug vinblastine that is used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs are used in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin’s lympomas and testicular cancer.
The survey also showed that several other important cancer medications are also available in short supply; it revealed that 46 percent of the centers confirmed that there was a shortage of etoposide, which is a chemotherapy drug, while 43 percent of the centers affirmed a shortage of topotecan, also a chemotherapy drug.
The centers that participated in the survey also reported that several other key cancer medications are currently in short supply, with 46% reporting a shortage of the chemotherapy drug etoposide and 43% reporting a shortage of the chemotherapy drug topotecan.
Dr. Crystal Denlinger, chief executive officer of the NCCN, said in an email that she was not surprised by the new survey results.
What more have the experts said?
Denlinger stated, “Sadly, as a practicing oncologist, I am well aware of and understand the challenges facing my patients and colleagues regarding oncology drug shortages, which have been going on for years. On the bright side, we have seen new enthusiasm for both short- and long-term solutions since last year’s survey. Our new survey shows the short-term solutions were fairly effective at meeting immediate needs,” as CNN Health reported.
She further added that the long-term solutions are necessary and continued, “The current presidential administration and Congress have put forth various proposals. However, people with cancer don’t always have the luxury of time. Given the results of this most recent survey, it is imperative to keep this issue at the forefront of our minds as this is an urgent issue that requires sustained attention and solutions.”
Previous surveys also indicated a shortage of meds
In the prior years, 21 percent of the centers that participated in the survey said they were experiencing a shortage of vinblastine, but etoposide and topotecan were not mentioned in the prior survey, as the CNN Health reported.
Nevertheless, in that other work, as many as 72 percent of the centers claimed to have had a deficiency of carboplatin, a chemotherapy medication, and 59 percent complained about the same with cisplatin.
Both carboplatin and cisplatin are commonly administered to cancer patients; the drugs are given in combination to cure many cancer types. Cisplatin and other similar platinum-based drugs are being used for an estimated 10 to 20 percent of all cancer patients, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The new survey data imply that carboplatin and cisplatin have become more accessible, as only 11 percent of the centers mentioned a short supply of carboplatin and 7 percent of cisplatin.
Denlinger added, “Thanks to policymakers, patient advocates, healthcare professionals, and health systems who went to extraordinary efforts to collaborate and mitigate harm, the shortages for carboplatin and cisplatin are mostly resolved at this time,” as CNN Health reported.