Liposomal anthracycline administration and toxicity management: a nursing perspective

Nursing care of the patient receiving chemotherapy includes patient education and drug administration, as well as ongoing assessment, early identification, and intervention for side effects. Two liposomal anthracyclines are available in the United States, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil/Caelyx [PLD]) and liposomal daunorubicin (DaunoXome [DNX]). Because of their unique liposomal formulations, the administration and toxicity profiles of these agents are different from those of conventional anthracyclines, as well as each other. Common severe toxicities of conventional anthracycline treatment such as nausea/vomiting, alopecia, and neutropenia are less frequent and less severe during liposomal anthracycline treatment, and cumulative-dose cardiotoxicity is rare, particularly with PLD therapy. Dose-related adverse events with liposomal anthracycline therapy include stomatitis and neutropenia, and more frequent doses of PLD are associated with hand-foot syndrome. Ongoing nursing assessment, patient education, and adjustments to the dose or dose-schedule can reduce the severity or frequency of these toxicities. Nurses must be aware of the unique characteristics of liposomal anthracycline therapy to provide optimal patient education and nursing care.