Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
Common adverse reactions (≥30%) observed in combination therapy clinical studies are: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, anorexia, mucositis, neutropenia, leukopenia (including lymphocytopenia), anemia, thrombocytopenia, asthenia, pain, fever, infection, abnormal bilirubin, and alopecia.
Common adverse reactions (≥30%) observed in single agent therapy clinical studies are: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, anorexia, neutropenia, leukopenia (including lymphocytopenia), anemia, asthenia, fever, body weight decreasing, and alopecia.
First-Line Combination Therapy
A total of 955 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer received the recommended regimens of irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV, 5-FU/LV alone, or irinotecan alone. In the two phase 3 studies, 370 patients received irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV, 362 patients received 5-FU/LV alone, and 223 patients received irinotecan alone
[see
Dosage and Administration (2)]
.
In Study 1, 49 (7.3%) patients died within 30 days of last study treatment: 21 (9.3%) received irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV, 15 (6.8%) received 5-FU/LV alone, and 13 (5.8%) received irinotecan alone. Deaths potentially related to treatment occurred in 2 (0.9%) patients who received irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV (2 neutropenic fever/sepsis), 3 (1.4%) patients who received 5-FU/LV alone (1 neutropenic fever/sepsis, 1 CNS bleeding during thrombocytopenia, 1 unknown) and 2 (0.9%) patients who received irinotecan alone (2 neutropenic fever). Deaths from any cause within 60 days of first study treatment were reported for 15 (6.7%) patients who received irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV, 16 (7.3%) patients who received 5-FU/LV alone, and 15 (6.7%) patients who received irinotecan alone. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 17 (7.6%) patients who received irinotecan in combination with 5FU/LV, 14 (6.4%) patients who received 5-FU/LV alone, and 26 (11.7%) patients who received irinotecan alone.
In Study 2, 10 (3.5%) patients died within 30 days of last study treatment: 6 (4.1%) received irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV and 4 (2.8%) received 5-FU/LV alone. There was one potentially treatment-related death, which occurred in a patient who received irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV (0.7%, neutropenic sepsis). Deaths from any cause within 60 days of first study treatment were reported for 3 (2.1%) patients who received irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV and 2 (1.4%) patients who received 5-FU/LV alone. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 9 (6.2%) patients who received irinotecan in combination with 5FU/LV and 1 (0.7%) patient who received 5-FU/LV alone.
The most clinically significant adverse events for patients receiving irinotecan-based therapy were diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, neutropenia, and alopecia. The most clinically significant adverse events for patients receiving 5-FU/LV therapy were diarrhea, neutropenia, neutropenic fever, and mucositis. In Study 1, grade 4 neutropenia, neutropenic fever (defined as grade 2 fever and grade 4 neutropenia), and mucositis were observed less often with weekly irinotecan/5-FU/LV than with monthly administration of 5-FU/LV.
Tables 5 and 6 list the clinically relevant adverse events reported in Studies 1 and 2, respectively.
Table 5: Study 1: Percent (%) of Patients Experiencing Clinically Relevant Adverse Events in Combination Therapies
a
Adverse Event
| Study 1
|
Irinotecan + Bolus 5- FU/LV weekly x 4 every 6 weeks N=225
| Bolus 5-FU/LV daily x 5 every 4 weeks N=219
| Irinotecan weekly x 4 every 6 weeks N=223
|
Grade
1 to 4
| Grade
3&4
| Grade
1 to 4
| Grade
3&4
| Grade
1 to 4
| Grade
3&4
|
TOTAL Adverse Events
| 100
| 53.3
| 100
| 45.7
| 99.6
| 45.7
|
GASTROINTESTINAL Diarrhea
Late
grade 3
grade 4
Early
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Anorexia
Constipation
Mucositis
|
84.9
--
--
45.8
79.1
63.1
60.4
34.2
41.3
32.4
|
22.7
15.1
7.6
4.9
15.6
14.6
9.7
5.8
3.1
2.2
|
69.4
--
--
31.5
67.6
50.2
46.1
42.0
31.5
76.3
|
13.2
5.9
7.3
1.4
8.2
11.5
4.1
3.7
1.8
16.9
|
83.0
--
--
43.0
81.6
67.7
62.8
43.9
32.3
29.6
|
31.0
18.4
12.6
6.7
16.1
13.0
12.1
7.2
0.4
2.2
|
HEMATOLOGIC Neutropenia
grade 3
grade 4
Leukopenia
Anemia
Neutropenic fever
Thrombocytopenia
Neutropenic infection
|
96.9
--
--
96.9
96.9
--
96.0
--
|
53.8
29.8
24.0
37.8
8.4
7.1
2.6
1.8
|
98.6
--
--
98.6
98.6
--
98.6
--
|
66.7
23.7
42.5
23.3
5.5
14.6
2.7
0
|
96.4
--
--‑
96.4
96.9
--
96.0
--
|
31.4
19.3
12.1
21.5
4.5
5.8
1.7
2.2
|
BODY AS A WHOLE Asthenia
Pain
Fever
Infection
|
70.2
30.7
42.2
22.2
|
19.5
3.1
1.7
0
|
64.4
26.9
32.4
16.0
|
11.9
3.6
3.6
1.4
|
69.1
22.9
43.5
13.9
|
13.9
2.2
0.4
0.4
|
METABOLIC & NUTRITIONAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bilirubin
| 87.6
| 7.1
| 92.2
| 8.2
| 83.9
| 7.2
|
DERMATOLOGIC Exfoliative dermatitis
Rash
Alopecia
b
|
0.9
19.1
43.1
|
0
0
--
|
3.2
26.5
26.5
|
0.5
0.9
--
|
0
14.3
46.1
|
0
0.4
--
|
RESPIRATORY Dyspnea
Cough
Pneumonia
|
27.6
26.7
6.2
|
6.3
1.3
2.7
|
16.0
18.3
1.4
|
0.5
0
1.0
|
22.0
20.2
3.6
|
2.2
0.4
1.3
|
NEUROLOGIC Dizziness
Somnolence
Confusion
|
23.1
12.4
7.1
|
1.3
1.8
1.8
|
16.4
4.6
4.1
|
0
1.8
0
|
21.1
9.4
2.7
|
1.8
1.3
0
|
CARDIOVASCULAR Vasodilatation
Hypotension
Thromboembolic events
c
|
9.3
5.8
9.3
|
0.9
1.3
--
|
5.0
2.3
11.4
|
0
0.5
--
|
9.0
5.8
5.4
|
0
1.7
--
|
aSeverity of adverse events based on NCI CTC (version 1.0)
bComplete hair loss = Grade 2
cIncludes angina pectoris, arterial thrombosis, cerebral infarct, cerebrovascular accident, deep thrombophlebitis, embolus lower extremity, heart arrest, myocardial infarct, myocardial ischemia, peripheral vascular disorder, pulmonary embolus, sudden death, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, vascular disorder.
Table 6: Study 2: Percent (%) of Patients Experiencing Clinically Relevant Adverse Events in Combination Therapies
a
Adverse Event | Study 2
|
Irinotecan + 5-FU/LV infusional days 1&2 every 2 weeks N= 145
| 5-FU/LV infusional days 1&2 every 2 weeks N= 143
|
Grades 1 to 4
| Grades 3&4
| Grades 1 to 4
| Grades 3&4
|
TOTAL Adverse Events
| 100
| 72.4
| 100
| 39.2
|
GASTROINTESTINAL Diarrhea
late
grade 3
grade 4
Cholinergic syndrome
b
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Anorexia
Constipation
Mucositis
|
72.4
--
--
28.3
66.9
17.2
44.8
35.2
30.3
40.0
|
14.4
10.3
4.1
1.4
2.1
2.1
3.5
2.1
0.7
4.1
|
44.8
--
--
0.7
55.2
16.8
32.2
18.9
25.2
28.7
|
6.3
4.2
2.1
0
3.5
0.7
2.8
0.7
1.4
2.8
|
HEMATOLOGIC Neutropenia
grade 3
grade 4
Leukopenia
Anemia
Neutropenic fever
Thrombocytopenia
Neutropenic infection
|
82.5
--
-‑-
81.3
97.2
-‑-
32.6
-‑-
|
46.2
36.4
9.8
17.4
2.1
3.4
0
2.1
|
47.9
--
-‑-
42.0
90.9
-‑-
32.2
-‑-
|
13.4
12.7
0.7
3.5
2.1
0.7
0
0
|
BODY AS A WHOLE Asthenia
Pain
Fever
Infection
|
57.9
64.1
22.1
35.9
|
9.0
9.7
0.7
7.6
|
48.3
61.5
25.9
33.6
|
4.2
8.4
0.7
3.5
|
METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL Bilirubin
|
19.1
|
3.5
|
35.9
|
10.6
|
DERMATOLOGIC Hand and foot syndrome
Cutaneous signs
Alopecia
c
|
10.3
17.2
56.6
|
0.7
0.7
--
|
12.6
20.3
16.8
|
0.7
0
--
|
RESPIRATORY Dyspnea
|
9.7
|
1.4
|
4.9
|
0
|
CARDIOVASCULAR Hypotension
Thromboembolic events
d
| 3.4
11.7
| 1.4
--
| 0.7
5.6
| 0
--
|
aSeverity of adverse events based on NCI CTC (version 1.0)
bIncludes rhinitis, increased salivation, miosis, lacrimation, diaphoresis, flushing, abdominal cramping or diarrhea (occurring during or shortly after infusion of irinotecan)
cComplete hair loss = Grade 2
dIncludes angina pectoris, arterial thrombosis, cerebral infarct, cerebrovascular accident, deep thrombophlebitis, embolus lower extremity, heart arrest, myocardial infarct, myocardial ischemia, peripheral vascular disorder, pulmonary embolus, sudden death, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, vascular disorder.
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Second-Line Single-Agent Therapy
Weekly Dosage Schedule
In three clinical studies evaluating the weekly dosage schedule, 304 patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum that had recurred or progressed following 5-FU-based therapy were treated with irinotecan hydrochloride injection. Seventeen of the patients died within 30 days of the administration of irinotecan hydrochloride injection; in five cases (1.6%, 5/304), the deaths were potentially drug-related. One of the patients died of neutropenic sepsis without fever. Neutropenic fever occurred in nine (3.0%) other patients; these patients recovered with supportive care.
One hundred nineteen (39.1%) of the 304 patients were hospitalized because of adverse events; 81 (26.6%) patients were hospitalized for events judged to be related to administration of irinotecan hydrochloride injection. The primary reasons for drug-related hospitalization were diarrhea, with or without nausea and/or vomiting (18.4%); neutropenia/leukopenia, with or without diarrhea and/or fever (8.2%); and nausea and/or vomiting (4.9%).
The first dose of at least one cycle of irinotecan hydrochloride injection was reduced for 67% of patients who began the studies at the 125-mg/m
2starting dose. Within-cycle dose reductions were required for 32% of the cycles initiated at the 125-mg/m
2dose level. The most common reasons for dose reduction were late diarrhea, neutropenia, and leukopenia. Thirteen (4.3%) patients discontinued treatment with irinotecan hydrochloride injection because of adverse events. The adverse events in Table 7 are based on the experience of the 304 patients enrolled in the three studies described in
Clinical Studies (14.1).
Table 7: Adverse Events Occurring in >10% of 304 Previously Treated Patients with Metastatic Carcinoma of the Colon or Rectum
a
Body System & Event
| % of Patients Reporting
|
NCI Grades 1 to 4
| NCI Grades 3 & 4
|
GASTROINTESTINAL Diarrhea (late)
b
7 to 9 stools/day (grade 3)
≥10 stools/day (grade 4)
Nausea
Vomiting
Anorexia
Diarrhea (early)
c
Constipation
Flatulence
Stomatitis
Dyspepsia
|
88
__
__
86
67
55
51
30
12
12
10
|
31
(16)
(14)
17
12
6
8
2
0
1
0
|
HEMATOLOGIC Leukopenia
Anemia
Neutropenia
500 to <1000/mm
3(grade 3)
<500/mm
3(grade 4)
|
63
60
54
__
__
|
28
7
26
(15)
(12)
|
BODY AS A WHOLE Asthenia
Abdominal cramping/pain
Fever
Pain
Headache
Back pain
Chills
Minor infection
d
Edema
Abdominal enlargement
|
76
57
45
24
17
14
14
14
10
10
|
12
16
1
2
1
2
0
0
1
0
|
METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL ↓ Body weight
Dehydration
↑ Alkaline phosphatase
↑ SGOT
|
30
15
13
10
|
1
4
4
1
|
DERMATOLOGIC Alopecia
Sweating
Rash
|
60
16
13
|
NA
e
0
1
|
RESPIRATORY Dyspnea
↑ Coughing
Rhinitis
|
22
17
16
|
4
0
0
|
NEUROLOGIC Insomnia
Dizziness
|
19
15
|
0
0
|
CARDIOVASCULAR Vasodilation (flushing)
|
11
|
0
|
aSeverity of adverse events based on NCI CTC (version 1.0)
bOccurring >24 hours after administration of irinotecan hydrochloride injection
cOccurring ≤24 hours after administration of irinotecan hydrochloride injection
dPrimarily upper respiratory infections
eNot applicable; complete hair loss = NCI grade 2
Once-Every-3-Week Dosage Schedule
A total of 535 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose disease had recurred or progressed following prior 5-FU therapy participated in the two phase 3 studies: 316 received irinotecan, 129 received 5-FU, and 90 received best supportive care. Eleven (3.5%) patients treated with irinotecan died within 30 days of treatment. In three cases (1%, 3/316), the deaths were potentially related to irinotecan treatment and were attributed to neutropenic infection, grade 4 diarrhea, and asthenia, respectively. One (0.8%, 1/129) patient treated with 5-FU died within 30 days of treatment; this death was attributed to grade 4 diarrhea.
Hospitalizations due to serious adverse events occurred at least once in 60% (188/316) of patients who received irinotecan, 63% (57/90) who received best supportive care, and 39% (50/129) who received 5-FU-based therapy. Eight percent of patients treated with irinotecan and 7% treated with 5-FU-based therapy discontinued treatment due to adverse events.
Of the 316 patients treated with irinotecan, the most clinically significant adverse events (all grades, 1 to 4) were diarrhea (84%), alopecia (72%), nausea (70%), vomiting (62%), cholinergic symptoms (47%), and neutropenia (30%). Table 8 lists the grade 3 and 4 adverse events reported in the patients enrolled to all treatment arms of the two studies described in
Clinical Studies (14.1).
Table 8: Percent Of Patients Experiencing Grade 3 & 4 Adverse Events In Comparative Studies Of Once-Every-3-Week Irinotecan Therapy
a
Adverse Event
| Study 1
| Study 2
|
Irinotecan N=189
| BSC
b
N=90
| Irinotecan N=127
| 5-FU N=129
|
TOTAL Grade 3/4
Adverse Events
|
79
|
67
|
69
|
54
|
GASTROINTESTINAL Diarrhea
Vomiting
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Anorexia
Mucositis
|
22
14
14
14
10
5
2
|
6
8
3
16
8
7
1
|
22
14
11
9
8
6
2
|
11
5
4
8
6
4
5
|
HEMATOLOGIC Leukopenia/Neutropenia
Anemia
Hemorrhage
Thrombocytopenia
Infection
without grade 3/4 neutropenia
with grade 3/4 neutropenia
Fever
without grade 3/4 neutropenia
with grade 3/4 neutropenia
|
22
7
5
1
8
1
2
2
|
0
6
3
0
3
0
1
0
|
14
6
1
4
1
2
2
4
|
2
3
3
2
4
0
0
2
|
BODY AS A WHOLE Pain
Asthenia
|
19
15
|
22
19
|
17
13
|
13
12
|
METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL Hepatic
c
|
9
|
7
|
9
|
6
|
DERMATOLOGIC Hand and foot syndrome
Cutaneous signs
d
|
0
2
|
0
0
|
0
1
|
5
3
|
RESPIRATORY
e
| 10
| 8
| 5
| 7
|
NEUROLOGIC
f
| 12
| 13
| 9
| 4
|
CARDIOVASCULAR
g
| 9
| 3
| 4
| 2
|
OTHER
h
| 32
| 28
| 12
| 14
|
aSeverity of adverse events based on NCI CTC (version 1.0)
bBSC = best supportive care
cHepatic includes events such as ascites and jaundice
dCutaneous signs include events such as rash
eRespiratory includes events such as dyspnea and cough
fNeurologic includes events such as somnolence
gCardiovascular includes events such as dysrhythmias, ischemia, and mechanical cardiac dysfunction
hOther includes events such as accidental injury, hepatomegaly, syncope, vertigo, and weight loss
The incidence of akathisia in clinical trials of the weekly dosage schedule was greater (8.5%, 4/47 patients) when prochlorperazine was administered on the same day as irinotecan hydrochloride injection than when these drugs were given on separate days (1.3%, 1/80 patients). The 8.5% incidence of akathisia, however, is within the range reported for use of prochlorperazine when given as a premedication for other chemotherapies.