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An onco-informatics database for anticancer drug interactions with complementary and alternative medicines used in cancer treatment and supportive care: an overview of the OncoRx project

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Yap, Kevin Yi-Lwern, Kuo, En Yi, Lee, Jonathan Jun Jie, Chui, Wai Keung and Chan, Alexandre. (2010) An onco-informatics database for anticancer drug interactions with complementary and alternative medicines used in cancer treatment and supportive care: an overview of the OncoRx project. Supportive Care In Cancer, Vol.18 (No.7). pp. 883-891. ISSN 0941-4355

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0729-9

Abstract

Purpose
Cancer patients are at high risk of manifesting interactions from use of anticancer drugs (ACDs) and complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). These interactions can result in sub-therapeutic effects or increased toxicities which may compromise the outcome of chemotherapy. It is important for practitioners to gain convenient access to ACD–CAM interaction information so as to make better-informed decisions in daily practice. This paper describes the creation of an oncology database (OncoRx) that documents ACD–CAM interactions, including traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) that are commonly used for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive care therapy.

Methods
Information regarding ACDs, CAMs, and drug interactions were collated from 14 sources, inclusive of hardcopy and online resources, and input into a modified web server with a database engine and a programming interface using a combination of software and programming scripts.

Results
OncoRx currently contains a total of 117 ACDs and 166 CAMs. Users are able to search for interactions based on various CAM uses: cancer treatment or prevention, immune-system-related, alopecia, nausea, and vomiting, peripheral neuropathy and pain, inflammation, fatigue, and non-cancer related. Pharmacokinetic data on ACDs and CAMs, characteristics of CAMs based on TCM principles, and drug interaction parameters such as effects, mechanisms, evidences, and proposed management plans, are shown in the search results.

Conclusion
OncoRx is an oncology database which detects ACD interactions. It is currently able to detect interactions with CAMs. It is hoped that OncoRx will serve as a useful resource to clinicians, educators, trainers, and students working in the oncology setting.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources > ZA4450 Databases

Divisions:

Faculty of Science > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)

Journal or Publication Title:

Supportive Care In Cancer

Publisher:

Springer

ISSN:

0941-4355