Decreased Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
TYKERB has been reported to decrease LVEF [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. In
the randomized clinical trial, the majority ( > 60%) of LVEF decreases occurred
within the first 9 weeks of treatment; however, data on long-term exposure are
limited. Caution should be taken if TYKERB is to be administered to patients
with conditions that could impair left ventricular function. LVEF should be
evaluated in all patients prior to initiation of treatment with TYKERB to ensure
that the patient has a baseline LVEF that is within the institution's normal
limits. LVEF should continue to be evaluated during treatment with TYKERB to
ensure that LVEF does not decline below the institution's normal limits [see
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Hepatotoxicity
Hepatotoxicity (ALT or AST > 3 times the upper limit of normal and total
bilirubin > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal) has been observed in clinical
trials ( < 1% of patients) and postmarketing experience. The hepatotoxicity
may be severe and deaths have been reported. Causality of the deaths is uncertain.
The hepatotoxicity may occur days to several months after initiation of treatment.
Liver function tests (transaminases, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase) should
be monitored before initiation of treatment, every 4 to 6 weeks during treatment,
and as clinically indicated. If changes in liver function are severe, therapy
with TYKERB should be discontinued and patients should not be retreated with
TYKERB [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Patients with Severe Hepatic Impairment
If TYKERB is to be administered to patients with severe pre-existing hepatic
impairment, dose reduction should be considered [see DOSAGE
AND ADMINISTRATION and Use in Specific Populations]. In patients
who develop severe hepatotoxicity while on therapy, TYKERB should be discontinued
and patients should not be retreated with TYKERB [see WARNINGS and
PRECAUTIONS].
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, including severe diarrhea, has been reported during treatment with
TYKERB [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Proactive management of diarrhea with
anti-diarrheal agents is important. Severe cases of diarrhea may require administration
of oral or intravenous electrolytes and fluids, and interruption or discontinuation
of therapy with TYKERB.
Interstitial Lung Disease/Pneumonitis
Lapatinib has been associated with interstitial lung disease and pneumonitis
in monotherapy or in combination with other chemotherapies [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Patients should be monitored for pulmonary symptoms indicative of interstitial
lung disease or pneumonitis. TYKERB should be discontinued in patients who experience
pulmonary symptoms indicative of interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis which
are ≥ Grade 3 (NCI CTCAE).
QT Prolongation
QT prolongation measured by automated machine-read evaluation of ECG was observed
in an uncontrolled, open-label dose escalation study of lapatinib in advanced
cancer patients [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. Lapatinib should be administered
with caution to patients who have or may develop prolongation of QTc. These
conditions include patients with hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia, with congenital
long QT syndrome, patients taking anti-arrhythmic medicines or other medicinal
products that lead to QT prolongation, and cumulative high-dose anthracycline
therapy. Hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia should be corrected prior to lapatinib
administration. The prescriber should consider baseline and on-treatment electrocardiograms
with QT measurement.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category D
TYKERB can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. In a study
where pregnant rats were dosed with lapatinib during organogenesis and through
lactation, at a dose of 120 mg/kg/day (approximately 6.4 times the human clinical
exposure based on AUC), 91% of the pups had died by the fourth day after birth,
while 34% of the 60 mg/kg/day pups were dead. The highest no-effect dose for
this study was 20 mg/kg/day (approximately equal to the human clinical exposure
based on AUC).
Lapatinib was studied for effects on embryo-fetal development in pregnant rats
and rabbits given oral doses of 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg/day. There were no teratogenic
effects; however, minor anomalies (left-sided umbilical artery, cervical rib,
and precocious ossification) occurred in rats at the maternally toxic dose of
120 mg/kg/day (approximately 6.4 times the human clinical exposure based on
AUC). In rabbits, lapatinib was associated with maternal toxicity at 60 and
120 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.07 and 0.2 times the human clinical exposure,
respectively, based on AUC) and abortions at 120 mg/kg/day. Maternal toxicity
was associated with decreased fetal body weights and minor skeletal variations.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with TYKERB in pregnant women.
Women should be advised not to become pregnant when taking TYKERB. If this drug
is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this
drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.
Patient Counseling Information
See FDA-approved patient labeling
Decreased Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Patients should be informed that TYKERB has been reported to decrease left ventricular ejection fraction which may result in shortness of breath, palpitations, and/or fatigue. Patients should inform their physician if they develop these symptoms while taking TYKERB.
Diarrhea
Patients should be informed that TYKERB often causes diarrhea which may be severe in some cases. Patients should be told how to manage and/or prevent diarrhea and to inform their physician if severe diarrhea occurs during treatment with TYKERB.
Drug Interactions
TYKERB may interact with many drugs; therefore, patients should be advised to report to their healthcare provider the use of any other prescription or nonprescription medication or herbal products.
Food
Patients should be informed of the importance of taking TYKERB at least one hour before or one hour after a meal, in contrast to capecitabine which should be taken with food or within 30 minutes after food.
Divided Dosing
The dose of TYKERB should not be divided. Patients should be advised of the importance of taking TYKERB once daily, in contrast to capecitabine which is taken twice daily.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Two-year carcinogenicity studies with lapatinib are ongoing.
Lapatinib was not clastogenic or mutagenic in the Chinese hamster ovary chromosome
aberration assay, microbial mutagenesis (Ames) assay, human lymphocyte chromosome
aberration assay or the in vivo rat bone marrow chromosome aberration
assay at single doses up to 2,000 mg/kg. However, an impurity in the drug product
(up to 4 ppm or 8 mcg/day) was genotoxic when tested alone in both in vitro
and in vivo assays.
There were no effects on male or female rat mating or fertility at doses up
to 120 mg/kg/day in females and 180 mg/kg/day in males (approximately 6.4 times
and 2.6 times the expected human clinical exposure based on AUC, respectively).
The effect of lapatinib on human fertility is unknown. However, when female
rats were given oral doses of lapatinib during breeding and through the first
6 days of gestation, a significant decrease in the number of live fetuses was
seen at 120 mg/kg/day and in the fetal body weights at ≥ 60 mg/kg/day (approximately
6.4 times and 3.3 times the expected human clinical exposure based on AUC, respectively).
Use in Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category D [see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS].
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether lapatinib is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from TYKERB, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of TYKERB in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
Of the total number of metastatic breast cancer patients in clinical studies of TYKERB in combination with capecitabine (N = 198), 17% were 65 years of age and older, and 1% were 75 years of age and older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness of the combination of TYKERB and capecitabine were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.
Renal Impairment
Lapatinib pharmacokinetics have not been specifically studied in patients
with renal impairment or in patients undergoing hemodialysis. There is no experience
with TYKERB in patients with severe renal impairment. However, renal impairment
is unlikely to affect the pharmacokinetics of lapatinib given that less than
2% (lapatinib and metabolites) of an administered dose is eliminated by the
kidneys.
Hepatic Impairment
The pharmacokinetics of lapatinib were examined in subjects with pre-existing
moderate (n = 8) or severe (n = 4) hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B/C,
respectively) and in 8 healthy control subjects. Systemic exposure (AUC) to
lapatinib after a single oral 100-mg dose increased approximately 14% and 63%
in subjects with moderate and severe pre-existing hepatic impairment, respectively.
Administration of TYKERB in patients with severe hepatic impairment should be
undertaken with caution due to increased exposure to the drug. A dose reduction
should be considered for patients with severe pre-existing hepatic impairment
[see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. In patients who develop severe hepatotoxicity
while on therapy, TYKERB should be discontinued and patients should not be retreated
with TYKERB [see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS].
Last updated on RxList: 8/6/2008