TY - JOUR
T1 - Aprepitant for management of severe pruritus related to biological cancer treatments: a pilot study
AU - Santini, D
AU - Vincenzi, B
AU - Guida, FM
AU - Imperatori, M
AU - Schiavon, Gaia
AU - Venditti, O
AU - Frezza, AM
AU - Berti, P
AU - Tonini, G
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Background Itch is a common side-effect of treatment with anti-EGFR antibodies and tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. We designed a pilot single-centre study to assess the effects of aprepitant-a neurokinin receptor inhibitor-for management of severe pruritus induced by biological drugs. Methods In this single-group, prospective study, we consecutively enrolled 45 outpatients with metastatic solid tumours treated with biological drugs at the Campus Bio-Medico Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy, between September, 2010, and November, 2011. We classified patients into two groups: a refactory group, for patients with pruritis refractory to standard treatment, or a naive group, for patients who had not been previously treated for pruritis. Aprepitant (125 mg on day 1; 80 mg on day 3; 80 Findings Median VAS in the refractory group was 8.00 (95% CI 7.93-8.57) at baseline and 1.00 (0.00-2.00) after 1 week of treatment with aprepitant (p<0.0001). In the naive group, VAS score was 8.00 (7.43-8.37) at baseline and 0.00 (0.06-1.08) after 1 week of treatment (p<0.0001). 41 (91%) patients responded to aprepitant (ie, had a >50% reduction in intensity of pruritis) and pruritus recurred in only six (13%) patients. No adverse events related to aprepitant occurred. Interpretation Aprepitant decreases severe pruritus induced by biological treatments; it is an old drug, widely available, and therefore easy to add to the armamentarium of supportive treatment. Although to our knowledge no other studies of the anti-itch activity of aprepitant are planned, the results of our trial warrant confirmation in phase 2 and 3 trials.
AB - Background Itch is a common side-effect of treatment with anti-EGFR antibodies and tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. We designed a pilot single-centre study to assess the effects of aprepitant-a neurokinin receptor inhibitor-for management of severe pruritus induced by biological drugs. Methods In this single-group, prospective study, we consecutively enrolled 45 outpatients with metastatic solid tumours treated with biological drugs at the Campus Bio-Medico Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy, between September, 2010, and November, 2011. We classified patients into two groups: a refactory group, for patients with pruritis refractory to standard treatment, or a naive group, for patients who had not been previously treated for pruritis. Aprepitant (125 mg on day 1; 80 mg on day 3; 80 Findings Median VAS in the refractory group was 8.00 (95% CI 7.93-8.57) at baseline and 1.00 (0.00-2.00) after 1 week of treatment with aprepitant (p<0.0001). In the naive group, VAS score was 8.00 (7.43-8.37) at baseline and 0.00 (0.06-1.08) after 1 week of treatment (p<0.0001). 41 (91%) patients responded to aprepitant (ie, had a >50% reduction in intensity of pruritis) and pruritus recurred in only six (13%) patients. No adverse events related to aprepitant occurred. Interpretation Aprepitant decreases severe pruritus induced by biological treatments; it is an old drug, widely available, and therefore easy to add to the armamentarium of supportive treatment. Although to our knowledge no other studies of the anti-itch activity of aprepitant are planned, the results of our trial warrant confirmation in phase 2 and 3 trials.
U2 - 10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70373-X
DO - 10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70373-X
M3 - Article
C2 - 22995650
SN - 1470-2045
VL - 13
SP - 1020
EP - 1024
JO - Lancet Oncology
JF - Lancet Oncology
IS - 10
ER -
