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 Therapiesa
|
|
|
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 1-4
| Grade 3&4
| Grade 1-4
| Grade 3&4
| Grade 1-4
| Grade 3&4
|
TOTAL Adverse Events
| 100
| 53.3
| 100
| 45.7
| 99.6
| 45.7
|
GASTROINTESTINAL
|
Diarrhea
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Late
| 84.9
| 22.7
| 69.4
| 13.2
| 83.0
| 31.0
|
grade 3
| -
| 15.1
| -
| 5.9
| -
| 18.4
|
grade 4
| -
| 7.6
| -
| 7.3
| -
| 12.6
|
Early
| 45.8
| 4.9
| 31.5
| 1.4
| 43.0
| 6.7
|
Nausea
| 79.1
| 15.6
| 67.6
| 8.2
| 81.6
| 16.1
|
Abdominal pain
| 63.1
| 14.6
| 50.2
| 11.5
| 67.7
| 13.0
|
Vomiting
| 60.4
| 9.7
| 46.1
| 4.1
| 62.8
| 12.1
|
Anorexia
| 34.2
| 5.8
| 42.0
| 3.7
| 43.9
| 7.2
|
Constipation
| 41.3
| 3.1
| 31.5
| 1.8
| 32.3
| 0.4
|
Mucositis
| 32.4
| 2.2
| 76.3
| 16.9
| 29.6
| 2.2
|
HEMATOLOGIC
|
Neutropenia
| 96.9
| 53.8
| 98.6
| 66.7
| 96.4
| 31.4
|
grade 3
| -
| 29.8
| -
| 23.7
| -
| 19.3
|
grade 4
| -
| 24.0
| -
| 42.5
| -
| 12.1
|
Leukopenia
| 96.9
| 37.8
| 98.6
| 23.3
| 96.4
| 21.5
|
Anemia
| 96.9
| 8.4
| 98.6
| 5.5
| 96.9
| 4.5
|
Neutropenic fever
| -
| 7.1
| -
| 14.6
| -
| 5.8
|
Thrombocytopenia
| 96.0
| 2.6
| 98.6
| 2.7
| 96.0
| 1.7
|
Neutropenic infection
| -
| 1.8
| -
| 0
| -
| 2.2
|
BODY AS A WHOLE
|
Asthenia
| 70.2
| 19.5
| 64.4
| 11.9
| 69.1
| 13.9
|
Pain
| 30.7
| 3.1
| 26.9
| 3.6
| 22.9
| 2.2
|
Fever
| 42.2
| 1.7
| 32.4
| 3.6
| 43.5
| 0.4
|
Infection
| 22.2
| 0
| 16.0
| 1.4
| 13.9
| 0.4
|
METABOLIC & NUTRITIONAL Bilirubin
| 87.6
| 7.1
| 92.2
| 8.2
| 83.9
| 7.2
|
DERMATOLOGIC
|
Exfoliative dermatitis
| 0.9
| 0
| 3.2
| 0.5
| 0
| 0
|
Rash
| 19.1
| 0
| 26.5
| 0.9
| 14.3
| 0.4
|
Alopeciab
| 43.1
| -
| 26.5
| -
| 46.1
| -
|
RESPIRATORY
|
Dyspnea
| 27.6
| 6.3
| 16.0
| 0.5
| 22.0
| 2.2
|
Cough
| 26.7
| 1.3
| 18.3
| 0
| 20.2
| 0.4
|
Pneumonia
| 6.2
| 2.7
| 1.4
| 1.0
| 3.6
| 1.3
|
NEUROLOGIC
|
Dizziness
| 23.1
| 1.3
| 16.4
| 0
| 21.1
| 1.8
|
Somnolence
| 12.4
| 1.8
| 4.6
| 1.8
| 9.4
| 1.3
|
Confusion
| 7.1
| 1.8
| 4.1
| 0
| 2.7
| 0
|
CARDIOVASCULAR
|
Vasodilatation
| 9.3
| 0.9
| 5.0
| 0
| 9.0
| 0
|
Hypotension
| 5.8
| 1.3
| 2.3
| 0.5
| 5.8
| 1.7
|
Thromboembolic eventsc
| 9.3
| -
| 11.4
| -
| 5.4
| -
|
Table 6. Study 2: Percent (%) of Patients Experiencing Clinically Relevant Adverse Events in Combination Therapiesa
|
|
|
|
Adverse Event
| Study 2
|
Irinotecan + Bolus 5-FU/LV infusional days 1&2 every 2 weeks N= 145
| 5-FU/LV infusional days 1&2 every 2 weeks N=143
|
| Grade 1-4
| Grade 3&4
| Grade 1-4
| Grade 3&4
|
TOTAL Adverse Events
| 100
| 72.4
| 100
| 39.2
|
GASTROINTESTINAL
|
|
|
|
|
Diarrhea
|
|
|
|
|
late
| 72.4
| 14.4
| 44.8
| 6.3
|
grade 3
| -
| 10.3
| -
| 4.2
|
grade 4
| -
| 4.1
| -
| 2.1
|
Cholinergic syndromeb
| 28.3
| 1.4
| 0.7
| 0
|
Nausea
| 66.9
| 2.1
| 55.2
| 3.5
|
Abdominal pain
| 17.2
| 2.1
| 16.8
| 0.7
|
Vomiting
| 44.8
| 3.5
| 32.2
| 2.8
|
Anorexia
| 35.2
| 2.1
| 18.9
| 0.7
|
Constipation
| 30.3
| 0.7
| 25.2
| 1.4
|
Mucositis
| 40.0
| 4.1
| 28.7
| 2.8
|
HEMATOLOGIC
|
|
|
|
|
Neutropenia
| 82.5
| 46.2
| 47.9
| 13.4
|
grade 3
| -
| 36.4
| -
| 12.7
|
grade 4
| -
| 9.8
| -
| 0.7
|
Leukopenia
| 81.3
| 17.4
| 42.0
| 3.5
|
Anemia
| 97.2
| 2.1
| 90.9
| 2.1
|
Neutropenic fever
| -
| 3.4
| -
| 0.7
|
Thrombocytopenia
| 32.6
| 0
| 32.2
| 0
|
Neutropenic infection
| -
| 2.1
| -
| 0
|
BODY AS A WHOLE
|
|
|
|
|
Asthenia
| 57.9
| 9.0
| 48.3
| 4.2
|
Pain
| 64.1
| 9.7
| 61.5
| 8.4
|
Fever
| 22.1
| 0.7
| 25.9
| 0.7
|
Infection
| 35.9
| 7.6
| 33.6
| 3.5
|
METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL Bilirubin
| 19.1
| 3.5
| 35.9
| 10.6
|
DERMATOLOGIC
|
|
|
|
|
Hand and foot syndrome
| 10.3
| 0.7
| 12.6
| 0.7
|
Cutaneous signs
| 17.2
| 0.7
| 20.3
| 0
|
Alopeciac
| 56.6
| -
| 16.8
| -
|
RESPIRATORY
|
|
|
|
|
Dyspnea
| 9.7
| 1.4
| 4.9
| 0
|
CARDIOVASCULAR
|
|
|
|
|
Hypotension
| 3.4
| 1.4
| 0.7
| 0
|
Thromboembolic eventsd
| 11.7
| -
| 5.6
| -
|
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/m2 starting dose. Within-cycle dose reductions were required for 32% of the cycles initiated at the 125-mg/m2 dose 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 Rectuma
|
|
|
|
|
Body System & Event
| % of Patients Reporting
|
NCI Grades 1-4
| NCI Grades 3 & 4
|
GASTROINTESTINAL Diarrhea (late)b
7–9 stools/day (grade 3) ≥10 stools/day (grade 4) Nausea Vomiting Anorexia Diarrhea (early)c
| 88 — — 86 67 55 51
| 31 (16) (14) 17 12 6 8
|
Constipation Flatulence Stomatitis Dyspepsia
| 30 12 12 10
| 2 0 1 0
|
HEMATOLOGIC Leukopenia Anemia Neutropenia 500 to <1000/mm3 (grade 3) <500/mm3 (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 infectiond
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
| NAe
0 1
|
RESPIRATORY Dyspnea ↑ Coughing Rhinitis
| 22 17 16
| 4 0 0
|
NEUROLOGIC Insomnia Dizziness
| 19 15
| 0 0
|
CARDIOVASCULAR Vasodilation (flushing)
| 11
| 0
|
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, 1–4) 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 Therapya
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adverse Event
| Study1
| | Study2
| |
Irinotecan N=189
| BSCb
N=90
| Irinotecan N=127
| 5-FU N=129
|
TOTAL Grade 3/4 Adverse Events
| 79
| 67
| 69
| 54
|
GASTROINTESTINAL
| | | | |
Diarrhea
| 22
| 6
| 22
| 11
|
Vomiting
| 14
| 8
| 14
| 5
|
Nausea
| 14
| 3
| 11
| 4
|
Abdominal pain
| 14
| 16
| 9
| 8
|
Constipation
| 10
| 8
| 8
| 6
|
Anorexia
| 5
| 7
| 6
| 4
|
Mucositis
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 5
|
HEMATOLOGIC
| | | | |
Leukopenia/Neutropenia
| 22
| 0
| 14
| 2
|
Anemia
| 7
| 6
| 6
| 3
|
Hemorrhage
| 5
| 3
| 1
| 3
|
Thrombocytopenia
| 1
| 0
| 4
| 2
|
Infection without grade 3/4 neutropenia with grade 3/4 neutropenia
| 8 1
| 3 0
| 1 2
| 4 0
|
Fever
| | | | |
without grade 3/4 neutropenia
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 0
|
with grade 3/4 neutropenia
| 2
| 0
| 4
| 2
|
BODY AS A WHOLE Pain Asthenia
| 19 15
| 22 19
| 17 13
| 13 12
|
METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL Hepaticc
| 9
| 7
| 9
| 6
|
DERMATOLOGIC Hand and foot syndrome Cutaneous signsd
| 0 2
| 0 0
| 0 1
| 5 3
|
RESPIRATORYe
| 10
| 8
| 5
| 7
|
NEUROLOGICf
| 12
| 13
| 9
| 4
|
CARDIOVASCULARg
| 9
| 3
| 4
| 2
|
OTHERh
| 32
| 28
| 12
| 14
|
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.