Warning
Experienced Physician and Institution:
TRISENOX® (arsenic trioxide) injection should be administered under the supervision of a physician who is experienced in the management of patients with acute leukemia.
APL Differentiation Syndrome:
Some patients with APL treated with TRISENOX have experienced symptoms similar to a syndrome called the retinoic-acid-Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (RA-APL) or APL differentiation syndrome, characterized by fever, dyspnea, weight gain, pulmonary infiltrates and pleural or pericardial effusions, with or without leukocytosis. This syndrome can be fatal. The management of the syndrome has not been fully studied, but high-dose steroids have been used at the first suspicion of the APL differentiation syndrome and appear to mitigate signs and symptoms. At the first signs that could suggest the syndrome (unexplained fever, dyspnea and/or weight gain, abnormal chest auscultatory findings or radiographic abnormalities), high-dose steroids (dexamethasone 10 mg intravenously BID) should be immediately initiated, irrespective of the leukocyte count, and continued for at least 3 days or longer until signs and symptoms have abated. The majority of patients do not require termination of TRISENOX therapy during treatment of the APL differentiation syndrome.
ECG Abnormalities:
Arsenic trioxide can cause QT interval prolongation and complete atrioventricular block. QT prolongation can lead to a torsade de pointes-type ventricular arrhythmia, which can be fatal. The risk of torsade de pointes is related to the extent of QT prolongation, concomitant administration of QT prolonging drugs, a history of torsade de pointes, preexisting QT interval prolongation, congestive heart failure, administration of potassium-wasting diuretics, or other conditions that result in hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia. One patient (also receiving amphotericin B) had torsade de pointes during induction therapy for relapsed APL with arsenic trioxide.
ECG and Electrolyte Monitoring Recommendations:
Prior to initiating therapy with TRISENOX, a 12-lead ECG should be performed and serum electrolytes (potassium, calcium, and magnesium) and creatinine should be assessed; preexisting electrolyte abnormalities should be corrected and, if possible, drugs that are known to prolong the QT interval should be discontinued. For QTc greater than 500 msec, corrective measures should be completed and the QTc reassessed with serial ECGs prior to considering using TRISENOX. During therapy with TRISENOX, potassium concentrations should be kept above 4 mEq/L and magnesium concentrations should be kept above 1.8 mg/dL. Patients who reach an absolute QT interval value > 500 msec should be reassessed and immediate action should be taken to correct concomitant risk factors, if any, while the risk/benefit of continuing versus suspending TRISENOX therapy should be considered. If syncope, rapid or irregular heartbeat develops, the patient should be hospitalized for monitoring, serum electrolytes should be assessed, TRISENOX therapy should be temporarily discontinued until the QTc interval regresses to below 460 msec, electrolyte abnormalities are corrected, and the syncope and irregular heartbeat cease. There are no data on the effect of TRISENOX on the QTc interval during the infusion.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Serious adverse events, grade 3 or 4, were common. Those events attributable to TRISENOX in the phase 2 study of 40 patients with refractory or relapsed APL included QTc interval prolongation (n=16), APL differentiation syndrome (n=3), hyperleukocytosis (n=3), atrial dysrhythmias (n=2), hyperglycemia (n=2), and torsade de pointes (n=1).
A differentiation syndrome, like retinoic acid syndrome, has been reported with the use of TRISENOX for the treatment of malignancies other than APL from postmarketing surveillance. Due to unknown population size, it is not possible to provide precise estimates of frequency.
In a pediatric clinical trial of 13 patients (ages 4-20), additional drug-related toxicities included: gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic and nutrition disorders, respiratory disorders, cardiac failure congestive, neuralgia, and enuresis. One case each of pulmonary edema and caecitis were considered serious reactions.
TRISENOX contains arsenic trioxide, a human carcinogen. Carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted with TRISENOX by intravenous administration.
TRISENOX may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. TRISENOX is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from TRISENOX, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Refer to the Full Prescribing Information.
To report an adverse event, contact Cephalon Medical Services at 1-800-896-5855 or usmedinfo@tevapharm.com.
