DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more

Trisenox (Arsenic Trioxide) - Summary

 
 



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.

 

TRISENOX SUMMARY

TRISENOX® is a sterile injectable solution of arsenic trioxide.

TRISENOX® is indicated for induction of remission and consolidation in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (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.

The response rate of other acute myelogenous leukemia subtypes to TRISENOX® has not been examined.


See all Trisenox indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Trisenox (Arsenic Trioxide)

The addition of arsenic trioxide to low-dose Ara-C in older patients with AML does not improve outcome. [2011.07]
Most patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are older, with many unsuitable for conventional chemotherapy. Low-dose Ara-C (LDAC) is superior to best supportive care but is still inadequate.This randomised comparison demonstrates that adding ATO to LDAC provides no benefit for older patients with AML.

Arsenic trioxide improves event-free and overall survival for adults with acute promyelocytic leukemia: North American Leukemia Intergroup Study C9710. [2010.11.11]
Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) is a highly effective treatment for patients with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL); its role as consolidation treatment for patients in first remission has not been defined. We randomized 481 patients (age >/= 15 years) with untreated APL to either a standard induction regimen of tretinoin, cytarabine, and daunorubicin, followed by 2 courses of consolidation therapy with tretinoin plus daunorubicin, or to the same induction and consolidation regimen plus two 25-day courses of As(2)O(3) consolidation immediately after induction...

The efficacy of arsenic trioxide for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma: a systematic review. [2009.08]
Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been proposed as an option for the treatment of relapsing or refractory multiple myeloma. In order to critically appraise the published clinical evidence, a systematic search of the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library was performed.With respect to the higher evidence level of new substances such as bortezomib or lenalidomide, at present ATO has no role in routine management of relapsed or refractory myeloma.

A phase I/II study of arsenic trioxide/bortezomib/ascorbic acid combination therapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. [2007.03.15]
CONCLUSIONS: The ABC regimen was well tolerated by most patients, and it produced preliminary signs of efficacy with an objective response rate of 27% in this heavily pretreated study population. These findings warrant further clinical evaluation of the ABC combination for treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

[Clinical observation and following up of two administration methods of arsenic trioxide in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia] [2004.03.02]
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and security of two arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) administration methods in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)... CONCLUSION: The 'multi-times and slowing intravenous infusion' method relieves the side effects of As(2)O(3) treatment, increases the CR rate in treatment of APL.

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Trisenox (Arsenic Trioxide)

Trisenox� in Women With Metastatic Endometrial Cancer [Terminated]
The primary purpose of this study is to see whether women who have already received chemotherapy for their endometrial cancer, or who have disease that has spread outside of the uterus, will respond to the drug arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®) as judged by shrinkage of their tumor.

Disulfiram Plus Arsenic Trioxide In Patients With Metastatic Melanoma and at Least One Prior Systemic Therapy [Terminated]
This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of arsenic trioxide when given together with disulfiram in treating patients with metastatic and progressive melanoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as disulfiram and arsenic trioxide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells.

Arsenic Trioxide, Temozolomide, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Malignant Glioma That Has Been Removed By Surgery [Active, not recruiting]
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as arsenic trioxide and temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving arsenic trioxide and temozolomide together with radiation therapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of arsenic trioxide and temozolomide when given together with radiation therapy and to see how well they work in treating patients with malignant glioma that has been removed by surgery.

Arsenic Trioxide and Ascorbic Acid Combined With Bortezomib, Thalidomide, and Dexamethasone in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma or Plasma Cell Leukemia [Completed]
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as arsenic trioxide and dexamethasone, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Ascorbic acid may help arsenic trioxide work better by making cancer cells more sensitive to the drug. Bortezomib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Thalidomide may stop the growth of cancer cells by stopping blood flow to the cancer. Giving arsenic trioxide and ascorbic acid together with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone may stop the growth of and kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of arsenic trioxide when given together with ascorbic acid, bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma or plasma cell leukemia.

Study of Arsenic Trioxide in Small Cell Lung Cancer [Active, not recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to study the effect of an anticancer drug, Arsenic Trioxide, in patients with small cell lung cancer who have failed at least one standard chemotherapy regimen as well as patients who are unable to tolerate the standard treatment for their cancer. The investigators seek to establish the safety of and efficacy of Arsenic Trioxide in this patient group. The study will include up to 36 participants with small cell lung cancer. The investigators want to find out what effects, good or bad, that the study drug has on your cancer. This study will also look at specific biomarkers in your blood and in the tumor tissue which may help the investigators to determine if the levels of these biomarkers are related to tumor response to treatment. Arsenic Trioxide, also known by the brand name, Trisenox, is a chemotherapy drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a specific type of blood cancer called Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. It works in part by making cancer cells become more mature thereby stopping them from growing in number and more likely to die off.

more trials >>

Reports of Suspected Trisenox (Arsenic Trioxide) Side Effects

Electrocardiogram QT Prolonged (4)Pancytopenia (4)Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia Differentiation Syndrome (3)Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Increased (3)Alanine Aminotransferase Increased (3)Febrile Neutropenia (3)Abdominal Pain (2)Femur Fracture (2)Pyrexia (2)Polyneuropathy (2)more >>


Page last updated: 2011-12-09

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017