An important treatment option for APL patients
If you have been diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) that has either returned or
not responded to initial therapy, TRISENOX
® (arsenic trioxide) injection may be an important
treatment option for you.
TRISENOX has proven to be successful in achieving remission for patients who did not achieve
or sustain complete remission with their first round of treatment. In addition to high
remission rates, TRISENOX is a selective therapy that targets APL cells. For this reason,
TRISENOX works with minimal chemotherapy-related side effects.
If your doctor has recommended therapy with TRISENOX, the information here will help you to
better understand the unique benefits of TRISENOX, how it works, and why it may be appropriate
at this stage of your APL treatment.
TRISENOX is indicated for induction of remission and consolidation in patients with APL who
are refractory to, or have relapsed from, retinoid and anthracycline chemotherapy, and whose
APL is characterized by the presence of the t(15;17) translocation or PML/RAR-alpha gene
expression.
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, pre-existing 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; pre-existing 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.