A Patient with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer in Whom Kamikihito was Effective for Thrombocytopenia Induced by GEM Monotherapy

Abstract

The efficacy of gemcitabine (GEM) monotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer has been confirmed. Although it induces adverse reactions due to bone marrow toxicity, such as thrombocytopenia, there are no other effective treatments other than blood transfusion. Kamikihito has been reported effective for thrombocytopenia in about 20% of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) cases, but there has been no report on its efficacy for thrombocytopenia caused by GEM administration. We encountered a patient with grade-2 thrombocytopenia in whom concomitant kamikihito improved thrombocytopenia, and it was also effective in improving response to chemotherapy. A 59-year-old patient developed thrombocytopenia in the first cycle of GEM therapy, and the dose was reduced or the drug was withheld appropriately until the 8th cycle. When kamikihito was concomitantly administered in the 9th cycle, thrombocytopenia was improved. The patient is now being treated in a 17th cycle, and is in a stable disease (SD) state. This suggests that kamikihito improves GEM-induced thrombocytopenia, as well as mental symptoms.