Autologous stem cell transplant plus interleukin-2 for breast cancer: review and nursing management
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Published on: January 14, 2011
1Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Purpose/Objectives:
To review the role of transplantation in breast cancer and describe the experience of one bone marrow transplant (BMT) program using autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) for the treatment of breast cancer.
Data Sources:
Published articles, chart review, personal experience.
Data Synthesis:
Toxicities experienced by patients on this autologous PBSCT protocol that can be ascribed to low-dose IL-2 included nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and skin rash.
Conclusions:
The most frequently occurring toxicities associated with low-dose IL-2 are not life-threatening. They do, however, affect the patient's quality of life and are toxicities that should be amenable to nursing interventions.
Implications For Nursing Practice:
Oncology nurses must be aware of the side effects of different combination therapies (e.g., BMT, biotherapy). Nursing research is needed concerning the management of these toxicities when they occur because of combination therapies.
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