Adherence to oral antineoplastic agents, an overview and meta-analysis
David Mourath1, Helena Fohlin2,3
1Department of Oncology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, 58185, Sweden.
The Oncologist
|May 1, 2026
Summary
Patient adherence to oral anti-cancer drugs is crucial for treatment success. This review estimates cumulative adherence at 84%, highlighting the need for improved management strategies for oral anti-neoplastic therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Evidence-based Medicine
Background:
- Oral anti-neoplastic therapies are increasingly used, but non-supervised administration raises adherence concerns.
- Understanding patient adherence is vital for effective cancer treatment outcomes.
- This review synthesizes current literature on adherence to oral anti-cancer medications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and meta-analyze existing literature on patient adherence to oral anti-neoplastic therapies.
- To identify common adherence measurement methods and interventions.
- To estimate overall patient adherence rates for oral anti-cancer drugs.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed up to January 2024.
- Studies were screened, and relevant full-text articles were reviewed for meta-analysis eligibility.
- Random effects meta-analysis was conducted using R (metafor package) to estimate adherence.
Main Results:
- The review included 8 reviews and 75 original studies published between 1987 and 2023.
- Estimated cumulative adherence to oral anti-neoplastic agents was 84% (95% CI 78-89).
- Lower-bound adherence was estimated at 71% (95% CI 63-78).
Conclusions:
- Variability in non-adherence definitions and measurement methods complicates a full understanding.
- Adherence rates deviate from full compliance across diverse treatments and tumor types.
- Findings offer insights for healthcare professionals to optimize patient management of oral anti-neoplastic therapies.
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