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Safety of Bendamustine in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Faculty Perspectives May 2013 Vol 4 No 3

This is the third article in a 4-part series on bendamustine. While the previous article discussed the efficacy of bendamustine for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the registration studies cited in the US product labeling, this article discusses its safety.1 The next article in this series will describe ongoing clinical investigations of the agent.

Bendamustine in CLL

As discussed in the previous article in this series, the FDA approved bendamustine hydrochloride (Treanda), an alkylating agent administered IV, on March 20, 2008, for the treatment of patients with CLL. As the basis for its approval, the FDA used the results of a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multicenter trial comparing bendamustine with chlorambucil as first-line treatment in 301 previously untreated patients (153 on bendamustine and 148 on chlorambucil) with advanced CLL.1,2 Chlorambucil was chosen as the comparator for this study because it was approved for first-line use in CLL in all participating countries when the pivotal trial was planned in 2001. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either bendamustine 100 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 2 every 28 days or chlorambucil 0.8 mg/kg orally on days 1 and 15 every 28 days. Up to 6 cycles were administered to each patient.1

Safety Results From the Pivotal CLL Study

Adverse events (AEs) were reported according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 2.0.3 Figure 1 shows the abnormal hematologic laboratory test values, indicating the myelosuppressive effects of the drug, seen in this study. Red blood cell transfusions were administered to 20% of patients receiving bendamustine compared with 6% of patients receiving chlorambucil.1

Table 1 lists the treatment-emergent AEs, regardless of attribution, that were reported in ≥5% of patients in either treatment group in the randomized CLL clinical study.1 Worsening hypertension was reported in 4 patients treated with bendamustine and none treated with chlorambucil. Three of these 4 AEs were described as a hypertensive crisis and were managed with oral medications, and all 3 resolved. The most frequent adverse reactions leading to study withdrawal for patients receiving bendamustine were hypersensitivity (2%) and pyrexia (1%).1

In the pivotal, randomized CLL clinical study, 34% of patients had bilirubin elevations, some without associated significant elevations in AST and ALT. Increased grade 3/4 bilirubin occurred in 3% of patients. Increases in AST and ALT of grade 3/4 occurred in 1% and 3% of patients, respectively. The US product label states that “patients treated with bendamustine may also have changes in their creatinine levels.”1

Bendamustine in Indolent B-Cell NHL
As discussed in the previous article in this series, the FDA approved bendamustine on October 31, 2008, for the treatment of patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within 6 months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen.1 The US product label for bendamustine presents the pooled safety results of a single-arm study of 100 patients with indolent B-cell NHL who had progressed during or within 6 months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen, and those of a previous phase 2 single-arm study in 76 similarly treated rituximab-refractory patients (including 15 patients with transformed disease).1,4-6 The pooled patient population evaluated was 31 to 84 years of age, 60% were male, and 40% were female. The race distribution was white, 89%; black, 7%; Hispanic, 3%; other, 1%; and Asian, <1%. These patients received bendamustine at a dose of 120 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 2 of a 21-day cycle for up to 8 cycles.1


Figure 1


Figure 2

Pooled Safety Results From 2 Indolent B-Cell NHL Studies

In both NHL studies, serious AEs, regardless of causality, were reported in 37% of patients receiving bendamustine. The most common serious adverse reactions occurring in ≥5% of patients were febrile neutropenia and pneumonia.1

Hematologic toxicities, based on laboratory values and CTC grade, in NHL patients treated in both single-arm studies combined are shown in Figure 3.1 The median time to a neutrophil nadir was 21 days (range, 1-86 days) and recovery to >1000/μL was 8 days (range, 2-62 days). The median time to platelet nadir was 21 days (range, 1-94 days) and recovery was 14 days (range, 3-63 days). Growth factors or blood products were used in 33% of 901 cycles, and 51% of patients received some growth factor support.6

The most common nonhematologic AEs (regardless of severity) in the 2 pooled studies of patients with indolent B-cell NHL are shown in Figure 4. The most common nonhematologic grade 3/4 AEs (≥5%) were fatigue (11%), febrile neutropenia (6%), and pneumonia, hypokalemia, and dehydration (5% each).1


Table 1

The nonhematologic AEs occurring in ≥5% of the NHL patients are listed in Table 2. Grade 3/4 AEs were more common in patients aged ≥65 years than <65 years (81% vs 66%, respectively) primarily because of asthenia (16% vs 9%), thrombocytopenia (25% vs 11%), cardiac disorders (11% vs 2%), and infection (24% vs 16%). Patients with previous purine analogue exposure had an increased risk of grade 3/4 neutropenia (41% vs 29%), grade 3/4 infections (26% vs 14%), and herpes zoster reactivation (13% vs 8%). The latter did not occur in patients on prophylactic antivirals, while it occurred in 11% of those not receiving prophylactic therapy. Opportunistic infections were relatively uncommon with bendamustine, with 10% of patients having herpes zoster, 9% candidiasis, 4% herpes simplex, 3% cytomegalovirus, 1% Pneumocystis jiroveci, and 1% Mycobacterium.6

Clinically important chemistry laboratory values that were new or worsened from baseline and occurred in >1% of patients at grade 3 or 4 in NHL patients treated in both single-arm studies combined were hyperglycemia (3%), elevated creatinine (2%), hyponatremia (2%), and hypocalcemia (2%).1

Key Bendamustine-Related Adverse Reactions and Their Management

Serious drug-related AEs reported in bendamustine clinical trials included myelosuppression, infections (such as pneumonia), infusion reactions, and tumor lysis syndrome.1

Myelosuppression
As with other cytotoxic therapies, bendamustine suppresses bone marrow function, which is likely to result in thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia (Figure 1 and Figure 3).7 In the 2 NHL studies, 3 patients (2%) died of myelosuppression-related AEs; 1 with neutropenic sepsis, 1 with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage with grade 3 thrombocytopenia, and 1 with pneumonia from a cytomegalovirus infection.1

In the clinical trials, leukocyte, platelet, hemoglobin, and neutrophil counts were monitored every week initially, and the lowest cell counts typically occurred during the third week after treatment.7 Myelosuppression was generally reversible.7 Management strategies for myelosuppression include the administration of colony-stimulating factors and blood product replacement and bendamustine dosage reduction.7 Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia led to filgrastim or pegfilgrastim therapy in 38% of patients in the larger indolent NHL study.4 In the CLL study, granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (used at the discretion of the investigator) were administered during 3% (23 of 783 cycles) of bendamustine and 0.3% (2 of 733) of chlorambucil cycles, with erythro­poietin administered during 0.5% and 0.3% of cycles.2 According to the pooled analysis of the rituximab-refractory indolent NHL data, blood products or growth factors were used in 33% of cycles (297 of 901 cycles), with 51% of patients receiving growth factor support.6 In addition, a higher incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia (41% vs 29%) was observed in patients with previous purine analogue exposure than in those without this exposure.6

Hematologic nadirs may require dose delays if recovery to the recommended values has not occurred by the first day of the next scheduled cycle. Before administration of the next cycle of treatment, the absolute neutrophil count should be ≥1000 cells/mL and the platelet count should be ≥75,000 cells/mL.1 Up-front dosage reductions in the first cycle should be considered for patients who have been heavily pretreated, have a poor performance status, or both. Similarly, this approach may be reasonable to further limit myelosuppression in patients demonstrating a good response.7

Infections
The US product label for bendamustine points out that infections, including pneumonia and sepsis, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients in clinical trials and in postmarketing reports, and that infection has been associated with hospitalization, septic shock, and death.1 Patients with myelosuppression following treatment with bendamustine are more susceptible to infections.1 Patients receiving bendamustine, especially those with myelosuppression, should be counseled about the potential risk of infection and instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms of infection.1

Infusion Reactions and Anaphylaxis
Infusion reactions to bendamustine have occurred commonly in clinical trials. Symptoms include fever, chills, pruritus, and rash. In rare instances, severe anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions have occurred, particularly in the second and subsequent cycles of therapy.1 The US product label for bendamustine points out that patients receiving bendamustine should be monitored clinically and the drug should be discontinued for severe (grade 3/4) reactions. Patients should be asked about symptoms suggestive of infusion reactions after their first cycle of therapy. In clinical trials, patients who experienced grade ≥3 allergic-type reactions were not typically rechallenged. Measures to prevent severe reactions, including premedicating with antihistamines and corticosteroids, should be considered in subsequent cycles for patients who have previously experienced grade 1 or 2 infusion reactions, although discontinuation of bendamustine may be necessary in more severe cases.1,5

Tumor Lysis Syndrome and Skin Reactions
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a metabolic disorder that develops as lysed tumor cells release their intracellular contents into the circulation. It is characterized by hyperkalemia, hyperuricemia, and hyperphosphatemia and may lead to acute renal failure, cardiac arrhythmias, or death.1,8 TLS associated with bendamustine treatment has been reported in patients in clinical trials and in postmarketing reports. The onset tends to be within the first treatment cycle of bendamustine and, without intervention, may lead to acute renal failure and death.1 TLS occurred in 2 patients with previously untreated CLL who had received their first cycle of bendamustine; these events were not fatal and both patients continued with treatment.2 In the larger indolent NHL study, 2 patients with disease refractory to rituximab (who had previously been treated with a median of 2 [range, 0-6] chemotherapy regimens) developed TLS (1 grade 3 and 1 grade 4); both episodes resolved with appropriate supportive care, and both patients continued with therapy.4

Patients taking bendamustine should be carefully monitored for tumor burden, renal function, and blood chemistry levels (particularly potassium and uric acid levels).1,7 In high-risk patients (ie, those with large tumor burden [elevated lactate dehydrogenase concentration or circulating tumor cells of >25,000/mm3], tumors with a high proliferation rate, or tumors with increased sensitivity to cytotoxic therapy), administration of IV or oral fluids is recommended to maintain a high fluid volume.7 In some cases, allopurinol is administered during the beginning of bendamustine therapy to minimize uric acid production.7 However, there may be an increased risk of severe skin toxicity (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome [SJS], and toxic epidermal necrolysis [TEN]) when bendamustine and allopurinol are administered concomitantly.1,7 Another agent, rasburicase, has been suggested as an alternative to allopurinol for the prevention of TLS in patients undergoing treatment with bendamustine for CLL.7

A number of skin reactions, including rash, toxic skin reactions, and bullous exanthema have been reported in clinical trials and postmarketing safety reports, although the precise relationship to bendamustine is uncertain.1 When skin reactions occur, they may be progressive and increase in severity with further treatment. Therefore, patients with skin reactions should be monitored closely. If skin reactions are severe or progressive, bendamustine should be withheld or discontinued.1

Secondary Malignancies

Because bendamustine damages DNA, there is a potential for treatment-induced development of secondary malignancies.7 The US product labeling states that reports of premalignant and malignant diseases that have developed in patients who have been treated with bendamustine include myelodysplastic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorders, acute myeloid leukemia, and bronchial carcinoma, but the association with bendamustine therapy has not been determined.1 One patient in the bendamustine treatment group of the CLL study developed a new malignancy (bronchial carcinoma) 12 months following treatment cessation.2 In the 2 NHL studies, 9 patients (5%) experienced secondary malignancies: 5 myelodysplastic syndromes, 1 chronic myelo­monocytic leukemia, 2 acute myeloid leukemias, and 1 squamous cell carcinoma (deemed not related to bendamustine therapy). Most of the cases of secondary malignancies occurred relatively soon after completion of bendamustine therapy.6


Figure 3


Figure 4

Summary

The safety of bendamustine in CLL and in indolent B-cell NHL that has progressed during or within 6 months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen has been demonstrated in patients who participated in an actively controlled trial for the treatment of CLL and 2 single-arm studies for the treatment of indolent B-cell NHL. In these studies, the most frequently reported AE was myelosuppression. The most common nonhematologic AEs seen with bendamustine in CLL were pyrexia, nausea, and vomiting, while in NHL, the most commonly reported AEs were nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and pyrexia. Serious drug-related AEs reported in bendamustine clinical trials included myelosuppression, infections (such as pneumonia), infusion reactions, and TLS. Cases of SJS/TEN, some fatal, have been reported when bendamustine was administered concomitantly with allopurinol and other medications known to cause these syndromes. Patients should be monitored closely for these reactions after bendamustine treatment for early intervention.


Table 2

Part 4 in the Series
The next article in this series will describe ongoing clinical investigations of bendamustine.

References
1. Treanda [package insert]. Frazer, PA: Cephalon, Inc; 2012.
2. Knauf WU, Lissichkov T, Aldaoud A, et al. Phase III randomized study of bendamustine compared with chlorambucil in previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27:
4378-4384.
3. National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Version 2.0. April 30, 1999. http://ctep.cancer.gov/protocolDevelopment/electronic_
applications/ctc.htm.
4. Kahl BS, Bartlett NL, Leonard JP, et al. Bendamustine is effective therapy in patients with rituximab-refractory, indolent B-cell non-Hodg­kin lymphoma: results from a multicenter study. Cancer. 2010;116:
106-114.
5. Friedberg JW, Cohen P, Chen L, et al. Bendamustine in patients with rituximab-refractory indolent and transformed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: results from a phase II multicenter, single-agent study. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26:204-210.
6. Cheson BD, Friedberg JW, Kahl BS, et al. Bendamustine produces durable responses with an acceptable safety profile in patients with ri­tuximab-refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2010;10:452-457.
7. Elefante A, Czuczman MS. Bendamustine for the treatment of indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010;67:713-723.
8. Coiffier B, Altman A, Pui CH, et al. Guidelines for the management of pediatric and adult tumor lysis syndrome: an evidence-based review. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26:2767-2778.

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