Predictive factors for ocular complications caused by anticancer drug S-1.

PURPOSE: To identify predictive factors for ocular complications caused by the anticancer drug S-1.

METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 39 patients who underwent S-1 chemotherapy at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, with the aim to determine whether these patients were aware of the ocular complications caused by S-1. Cognition rate was determined. The 26 patients who requested opthalmological examination for further evaluation studied further and classified into two groups-those who had developed corneal epithelial complications, conjunctival injection or chemosis, or lacrimal duct blockages (referred to as the positive group) and those without these findings (referred to as the negative group). Predictive factors, such as age, sex, total administration days, total dose, presence or absence of anticancer drug pretreatment, and single-drug or combination-drug therapy, were investigated and compared between groups.

RESULTS: Of the 39 patients who completed the questionnaire, ten were aware of the potential for ocular complications due to S-1 chemotherapy (cognition rate 25.6 %). Of the 26 patients who had requested opthalmological examination and entered into the study, 13 (26 eyes) were classified into the positive group, with corneal complications observed in 15 eyes (57.7 %), conjunctivitis in 26 eyes (100 %), and lacrimal duct blockage in 14 eyes (53.8 %). Cognition rate in the 13 patients in the positive group and the 13 patients in the negative group was 38.5 % (5 patients) and 7.7 % (1 patient), respectively. Patient age was significantly different between the two groups, with the patients in the positive group being significantly older than those in the negative group (mean age ± standard deviation: 71.6 ± 6.8 vs. 63.5 ± 7.3 years, respectively; P = 0.0077, Student's t test). No other significant predictive factors were detected.

CONCLUSION: Older patients were at greater risk of S-1-related ocular complications, but these complications were not associated with total administration days or total dose.