[Experience of off-label use of Eltrombopag in the treatment of thrombocytopenia associated with solid tumors]

Farm Hosp. 2015 May 1;39(3):157-60. doi: 10.7399/fh.2015.39.3.8580.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the results of the off-label use of eltrombopag in patients with solid tumors and thrombocytopenia that limits chemotherapy.

Methods: Retrospective observational study including all patients with solid tumors who were treated with eltrombopag for thrombocytopenia during the chemotherapy treatment between January 2012 and December 2014.

Results: Six patients, with solid tumors and thrombocytopenia that limits chemotherapy treatment, received eltrombopag during the study and it was observed a decrease in the delay of chemotherapy cycles (4.83 ± 4.79 delayed cycles before starting eltrombopag vs 2.50 ± 4.32 delayed cycles during the treatment with eltrombopag, p=0.492) and an increase in the percentage of administrated dosage (89.29 ± 13.36% vs 91.43 ± 10.69%, p=0.682). Also, there was an increase in platelet nadir (55.29 ± 16.45x10⁹/L vs 76.14 ± 36.38x10⁹/L, p=0.248) without platelet transfusion support in any patient during treatment with eltrombopag.

Conclusions: eltrombopag has resulted to be an alternative in the treatment of patients with thrombocytopenia that limits chemotherapy, clinical trials with more number or patients are needed to confirm these results.

Objetivo: Describir los resultados del uso fuera de indicación de eltrombopag en pacientes con trombocitopenia limitante de tratamiento quimioterápico y tumores sólidos. Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo en el que se incluyeron todos los pacientes con tumores sólidos tratados con eltrombopag por trombocitopenia durante el tratamiento con quimioterapia entre enero de 2012 y diciembre de 2014. Resultados: Seis pacientes, con tumores sólidos y trombocitopenia limitante de tratamiento, recibieron eltrombopag durante el periodo de estudio con una disminución en el retraso de ciclos de quimioterapia (4,83 ± 4,79 ciclos retrasados antes del inicio de eltrombopag vs 2,50 ± 4,32 ciclos durante el tratamiento con eltrombopag, p=0,492) y un aumento en el porcentaje de dosis real administrada (89,29 ± 13,36% vs 91,43 ± 10,69%, p=0,682). Así mismo, se produjo un aumento en el nadir de plaquetas (55,29 ± 16,45x109/L vs 76,14 ± 36,38x109/L, p=0,248) sin requerir en ningún paciente soporte transfusional con plaquetas durante el tratamiento con eltrombopag. Conclusiones: eltrombopag ha resultado ser una alternativa de tratamiento para pacientes con trombocitopenia limitante de tratamiento con quimioterapia, siendo necesarios ensayos clínicos con mayor número de pacientes que confirmen estos resultados.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzoates / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrazines / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Off-Label Use
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thrombocytopenia / drug therapy*
  • Thrombocytopenia / etiology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzoates
  • Hydrazines
  • Pyrazoles
  • eltrombopag