Oncology Pharmacy Course

Lesson 1 • Cancer Biology and Tumour Pathophysiology

Covers cell cycle regulation, oncogene activation, and tumour microenvironment. Provides the biological framework needed to understand how antineoplastic agents exert their effects.

Lesson 2 • Cancer Classification and Staging Systems

Explains histological classification, grading, and standardised staging frameworks. Staging knowledge directly informs treatment intent and drug selection decisions.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Cancer Treatment Modalities

Surveys surgery, radiation, systemic therapy, and supportive care as integrated treatment pillars. Contextualises pharmacotherapy within multimodal oncology care.

Lesson 1 • Immunotherapy Pharmacology

Covers checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, and cancer vaccines from a pharmacological perspective. Connects immune activation pathways to clinical response and toxicity profiles.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacokinetics in Oncology Patients

Analyses absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion alterations unique to cancer patients. Applies PK principles to dose individualisation and organ-impairment adjustments.

Lesson 3 • Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Mechanisms

Details alkylating agents, antimetabolites, topoisomerase inhibitors, and mitotic inhibitors by mechanism. Mechanistic knowledge underpins rational drug selection and toxicity prediction.

Lesson 4 • Hormonal and Endocrine Agents

Reviews antioestrogens, antiandrogens, aromatase inhibitors, and GnRH analogues used in hormone-sensitive cancers. Connects endocrine pharmacology to receptor-driven tumour growth.

Lesson 1 • Body Surface Area and Weight-Based Dosing

Teaches BSA calculation methods, actual versus adjusted body weight selection, and flat dosing concepts. Accurate dose calculation is the foundation of safe chemotherapy preparation.

Lesson 2 • Oral Chemotherapy Management

Addresses unique challenges of oral antineoplastic agents including adherence, storage, and handling. Oral agents require distinct counselling and monitoring strategies compared to IV therapy.

Lesson 3 • Dose Modification and Delay Criteria

Applies toxicity grading scales to determine dose reductions, delays, and treatment discontinuation. Ensures patient safety while preserving therapeutic intent across treatment cycles.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Combination Chemotherapy

Explains rationale for combining agents with non-overlapping toxicities and complementary mechanisms. Establishes the pharmacological logic behind standard multi-drug regimens.

Lesson 1 • Engineering Controls and Containment

Covers biological safety cabinets, closed-system drug transfer devices, and negative-pressure room design. Proper engineering controls are the primary barrier against occupational exposure.

Lesson 2 • Occupational Exposure Monitoring

Introduces biological monitoring, surface wipe sampling, and exposure incident reporting systems. Ongoing monitoring validates the effectiveness of containment and PPE programmes.

Lesson 3 • Spill Management and Waste Disposal

Provides step-by-step spill response procedures and regulatory waste segregation requirements. Proper disposal prevents environmental contamination and regulatory violations.

Lesson 4 • Hazardous Drug Classification and Risk

Defines hazardous drug criteria including carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and reproductive toxicity. Classification knowledge drives appropriate handling tier assignment for each agent.

Lesson 1 • Neurotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity

Covers peripheral neuropathy grading, platinum-induced nephrotoxicity, and ifosfamide encephalopathy. Proactive monitoring and hydration strategies preserve organ function during treatment.

Lesson 2 • Dermatologic and Infusion Reactions

Identifies rash, hand-foot syndrome, and hypersensitivity reactions associated with specific drug classes. Early recognition and graded management prevent treatment interruption and serious harm.

Lesson 3 • Haematologic Toxicity Management

Covers neutropenia, anaemia, and thrombocytopenia assessment and pharmacological management. Haematologic toxicities are the most dose-limiting and life-threatening chemotherapy complications.

Lesson 4 • Cardiotoxicity and Pulmonary Toxicity

Addresses anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy, QT prolongation, and drug-induced pneumonitis. Organ toxicity monitoring and cumulative dose limits are essential for long-term patient safety.

Lesson 1 • Psychosocial and Palliative Pharmacotherapy

Reviews anxiolytics, antidepressants, and palliative sedation agents used in advanced cancer care. Pharmacological support of psychological well-being is integral to holistic oncology practice.

Lesson 2 • Infection Prophylaxis and Management

Covers antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral prophylaxis strategies for immunocompromised oncology patients. Prophylaxis selection is guided by treatment intensity and patient-specific risk factors.

Lesson 3 • Venous Thromboembolism Prevention and Treatment

Applies cancer-associated thrombosis risk models to anticoagulant selection and duration decisions. Cancer patients have elevated VTE risk requiring individualised prophylaxis and treatment strategies.

Lesson 4 • Nutritional Support in Cancer Patients

Addresses malnutrition screening, enteral and parenteral nutrition, and appetite stimulant pharmacotherapy. Nutritional status directly affects chemotherapy tolerance and treatment outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Breast Cancer Pharmacotherapy

Covers hormone receptor, HER2, and triple-negative breast cancer systemic treatment strategies. Biomarker-driven subtype classification directly determines regimen selection and sequencing.

Lesson 2 • Genitourinary Cancer Pharmacotherapy

Examines prostate, bladder, and renal cell carcinoma systemic treatment including hormonal and immunotherapy agents. Sequencing decisions depend on disease stage, prior therapy, and biomarker status.

Lesson 3 • Lung Cancer Pharmacotherapy

Addresses NSCLC and SCLC systemic treatment including targeted therapy and immunotherapy combinations. Molecular profiling results drive first-line and subsequent therapy selection.

Lesson 4 • Haematologic Malignancy Treatment

Reviews treatment of leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma with induction, consolidation, and maintenance strategies. Haematologic cancers require complex multi-phase regimens with distinct toxicity profiles.

Lesson 1 • Oncology Clinical Trials and Pharmacy Role

Defines the pharmacist's responsibilities in investigational drug management, protocol compliance, and informed consent. Clinical trial pharmacy requires specialised documentation and chain-of-custody practices.

Lesson 2 • Oncology Drug Information and Evidence Appraisal

Trains critical appraisal of clinical trials, systematic reviews, and treatment guidelines in oncology. Evidence literacy enables pharmacists to support evidence-based prescribing and formulary decisions.

Lesson 3 • Quality Improvement and Outcomes Measurement

Applies quality improvement methodologies to oncology pharmacy practice metrics and patient outcomes. Continuous improvement cycles drive error reduction and enhanced pharmaceutical care delivery.

Lesson 4 • Medication Therapy Management in Oncology

Applies structured medication review to identify drug-related problems, interactions, and adherence barriers. MTM in oncology requires simultaneous management of antineoplastic and supportive care agents.