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Co-administration with potent CYP3A4 inducers should be avoided because it may decrease sunitinib plasma concentration (see Dosage & Administration and Interactions).
Co-administration with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors should be avoided because it may increase the plasma concentration of sunitinib (see Dosage & Administration and Interactions).
Skin and tissue disorders: Patients should be advised that depigmentation of the hair or skin may occur during treatment with sunitinib. Other possible dermatological effects may include dryness, thickness or cracking of the skin, blisters, or rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The previously mentioned reactions were not cumulative, were typically reversible, and generally did not result in treatment discontinuation. Cases of pyoderma gangrenosum, generally reversible after discontinuation of sunitinib, have been reported. Severe cutaneous reactions have been reported, including cases of erythema multiforme (EM), cases suggestive of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), some of which were fatal. If signs or symptoms of SJS, TEN, or EM (e.g., progressive skin rash often with blisters or mucosal lesions) are present, sunitinib treatment should be discontinued. If the diagnosis of SJS or TEN is confirmed, treatment must not be restarted. In some cases of suspected EM, patients tolerated the reintroduction of sunitinib therapy at a lower dose after resolution of the reaction; some of these patients also received concomitant treatment with corticosteroids or antihistamines (see Adverse Reactions).
Haemorrhage and tumour bleeding: Haemorrhagic events, some of which were fatal, reported in clinical studies with sunitinib and during postmarketing surveillance have included gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary tract, and brain haemorrhages (see Adverse Reactions).
Routine assessment of bleeding events should include complete blood counts and physical examination.
Epistaxis was the most common haemorrhagic adverse reaction, having been reported for approximately half of the patients with solid tumours who experienced haemorrhagic events. Some of the epistaxis events were severe, but very rarely fatal.
Events of tumour haemorrhage, sometimes associated with tumour necrosis, have been reported; some of these haemorrhagic events were fatal.
Tumour haemorrhage may occur suddenly, and in the case of pulmonary tumours, may present as severe and life-threatening haemoptysis or pulmonary haemorrhage. Cases of pulmonary haemorrhage, some with a fatal outcome, have been observed in clinical trials and have been reported in post marketing experience in patients treated with sunitinib for MRCC, GIST, and lung cancer. ALVOSUNI is not approved for use in patients with lung cancer.
Patients receiving concomitant treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin, acenocoumarole) may be periodically monitored by complete blood counts (platelets), coagulation factors (PT/INR), and physical examination.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and stomatitis/oral pain were the most commonly reported gastrointestinal adverse reactions; oesophagitis events have been also reported (see Adverse Reactions).
Supportive care for gastrointestinal adverse reactions requiring treatment may include medicinal products with antiemetic, antidiarrhoeal, or antacid properties.
Serious, sometimes fatal gastrointestinal complications including gastrointestinal perforation were reported in patients with intra-abdominal malignancies treated with sunitinib.
Hypertension: Hypertension has been reported in association with sunitinib, including severe hypertension (>200 mmHg systolic or 110 mmHg diastolic). Patients should be screened for hypertension and controlled as appropriate. Temporary suspension is recommended in patients with severe hypertension that is not controlled with medical management. Treatment may be resumed once hypertension is appropriately controlled (see Adverse Reactions).
Haematological disorders: Decreased absolute neutrophil counts and decreased platelet counts were reported in association with sunitinib (see Adverse Reactions). The previously mentioned events were not cumulative, were typically reversible, and generally did not result in treatment discontinuation. None of these events in the Phase 3 studies were fatal, but rare fatal haematological events, including haemorrhage associated with thrombocytopenia and neutropenic infections, have been reported during postmarketing surveillance.
Anaemia has been observed to occur early as well as late during treatment with sunitinib.
Complete blood counts should be performed at the beginning of each treatment cycle for patients receiving treatment with sunitinib (see Adverse Reactions).
Cardiac disorders: Cardiovascular events, including heart failure, cardiomyopathy, left ventricular ejection fraction decline to below the lower limit of normal, myocarditis, myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction, some of which were fatal, have been reported in patients treated with sunitinib. These data suggest that sunitinib increases the risk of cardiomyopathy. No specific additional risk factors for sunitinib-induced cardiomyopathy apart from the drug-specific effect have been identified in the treated patients. Use sunitinib with caution in patients who are at risk for, or who have a history of, these events (see Adverse Reactions).
Patients who presented with cardiac events within 12 months prior to sunitinib administration, such as myocardial infarction (including severe/unstable angina), coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft, symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF), cerebrovascular accident or transient ischaemic attack, or pulmonary embolism were excluded from all sunitinib clinical studies. It is unknown whether patients with these concomitant conditions may be at a higher risk of developing sunitinib-related left ventricular dysfunction.
Physicians are advised to weigh this risk against the potential benefits of sunitinib. Patients should be carefully monitored for clinical signs and symptoms of CHF while receiving sunitinib especially patients with cardiac risk factors and/or history of coronary artery disease. Baseline and periodic evaluations of LVEF should also be considered while the patient is receiving sunitinib. In patients without cardiac risk factors, a baseline evaluation of ejection fraction should be considered.
In the presence of clinical manifestations of CHF, discontinuation of sunitinib is recommended. The administration of sunitinib should be interrupted and/or the dose reduced in patients without clinical evidence of CHF but with an ejection fraction <50% and >20% below baseline.
QT interval prolongation: Prolongation of QT interval and Torsade de pointes have been observed in sunitinib-exposed patients. QT interval prolongation may lead to an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including Torsade de pointes.
Sunitinib should be used with caution in patients with a known history of QT interval prolongation, patients who are taking antiarrhythmics or medicinal products that can prolong QT interval, or patients with relevant pre-existing cardiac disease, bradycardia, or electrolyte disturbances. Concomitant administration of sunitinib with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors should be limited because of the possible increase in sunitinib plasma concentrations (see Dosage & Administration, Interactions and Adverse Reactions).
Venous thromboembolic events: Treatment-related venous thromboembolic events were reported in patients who received sunitinib including deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (see Adverse Reactions). Cases of pulmonary embolism with fatal outcome have been observed in postmarketing surveillance.
Arterial thromboembolic events: Cases of arterial thromboembolic events (ATE), sometimes fatal, have been reported in patients treated with sunitinib. The most frequent events included cerebrovascular accident, transient ischaemic attack, and cerebral infarction. Risk factors associated with ATE, in addition to the underlying malignant disease and age ≥65 years, included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and prior thromboembolic disease.
Aneurysms and artery dissections: The use of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway inhibitors in patients with or without hypertension may promote the formation of aneurysms and/or artery dissections. Before initiating sunitinib, this risk should be carefully considered in patients with risk factors such as hypertension or history of aneurysm.
Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA): The diagnosis of TMA, including thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), sometimes leading to renal failure or a fatal outcome, should be considered in the occurrence of haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, fluctuating neurological manifestation, renal impairment, and fever. Sunitinib therapy should be discontinued in patients who develop TMA and prompt treatment is required. Reversal of the effects of TMA has been observed after treatment discontinuation (see Adverse Reactions).
Thyroid dysfunction: Baseline laboratory measurement of thyroid function is recommended in all patients. Patients with pre-existing hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism should be treated as per standard medical practice prior to the start of sunitinib treatment. During sunitinib treatment, routine monitoring of thyroid function should be performed every 3 months. In addition, patients should be observed closely for signs and symptoms of thyroid dysfunction during treatment, and patients who develop any signs and/or symptoms suggestive of thyroid dysfunction should have laboratory testing of thyroid function performed as clinically indicated. Patients who develop thyroid dysfunction should be treated as per standard medical practice.
Hypothyroidism has been observed to occur early as well as late during treatment with sunitinib (see Adverse Reactions).
Pancreatitis: Increases in serum lipase and amylase activities were observed in patients with various solid tumours who received sunitinib. Increases in lipase activities were transient and were generally not accompanied by signs or symptoms of pancreatitis in subjects with various solid tumours (see Adverse Reactions).
Cases of serious pancreatic events, some with fatal outcome, have been reported. If symptoms of pancreatitis are present, patients should have sunitinib discontinued and be provided with appropriate supportive care.
Hepatotoxicity: Hepatotoxicity has been observed in patients treated with sunitinib. Cases of hepatic failure, some with a fatal outcome, were observed in <1% of solid tumour patients treated with sunitinib. Monitor liver function tests (alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST], bilirubin levels) before initiation of treatment, during each cycle of treatment, and as clinically indicated. If signs or symptoms of hepatic failure are present, sunitinib should be discontinued and appropriate supportive care should be provided (see Adverse Reactions).
Renal function: Cases of renal impairment, renal failure and/or acute renal failure, in some cases with fatal outcome, have been reported (see Adverse Reactions).
Risk factors associated with renal impairment/failure in patients receiving sunitinib included, in addition to underlying RCC, older age, diabetes mellitus, underlying renal impairment, cardiac failure, hypertension, sepsis, dehydration/hypovolaemia, and rhabdomyolysis.
The safety of continued sunitinib treatment in patients with moderate to severe proteinuria has not been systematically evaluated.
Cases of proteinuria and rare cases of nephrotic syndrome have been reported. Baseline urinalysis is recommended, and patients should be monitored for the development or worsening of proteinuria. Discontinue sunitinib in patients with nephrotic syndrome.
Fistula: If fistula formation occurs, sunitinib treatment should be interrupted. Limited information is available on the continued use of sunitinib in patients with fistulae (see Adverse Reactions).
Impaired wound healing: Cases of impaired wound healing have been reported during sunitinib therapy.
No formal clinical studies of the effect of sunitinib on wound healing have been conducted. Temporary interruption of sunitinib therapy is recommended for precautionary reasons in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. There is limited clinical experience regarding the timing of re-initiation of therapy following major surgical intervention. Therefore, the decision to resume sunitinib therapy following a major surgical intervention should be based upon clinical judgment of recovery from surgery.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ): Cases of ONJ have been reported in patients treated with ALVOSUNI. The majority of cases were reported in patients who had received prior or concomitant treatment with intravenous bisphosphonates, for which ONJ is an identified risk. Caution should therefore be exercised when ALVOSUNI and intravenous bisphosphonates are used either simultaneously or sequentially.
Invasive dental procedures are also an identified risk factor. Prior to treatment with ALVOSUNI, a dental examination and appropriate preventive dentistry should be considered. In patients who have previously received or are receiving intravenous bisphosphonates, invasive dental procedures should be avoided if possible (see Adverse Reactions).
Hypersensitivity/angioedema: If angioedema due to hypersensitivity occurs, sunitinib treatment should be interrupted and standard medical care provided (see Adverse Reactions).
Seizures: In clinical studies of sunitinib and from postmarketing surveillance, seizures have been reported. Patients with seizures and signs/symptoms consistent with posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS), such as hypertension, headache, decreased alertness, altered mental functioning and visual loss, including cortical blindness, should be controlled with medical management including control of hypertension. Temporary suspension of sunitinib is recommended; following resolution, treatment may be resumed at the discretion of the treating physician (see Adverse Reactions).
Tumour lysis syndrome (TLS): Cases of TLS, some fatal, have been rarely observed in clinical trials and have been reported in postmarketing surveillance in patients treated with sunitinib. Risk factors for TLS include high tumour burden, pre-existing chronic renal insufficiency, oliguria, dehydration, hypotension, and acidic urine. These patients should be monitored closely and treated as clinically indicated, and prophylactic hydration should be considered.
Infections: Serious infections, with or without neutropenia, including some with a fatal outcome, have been reported. Uncommon cases of necrotising fasciitis, including of the perineum, sometimes fatal, have been reported (see Adverse Reactions).
Sunitinib therapy should be discontinued in patients who develop necrotising fasciitis, and appropriate treatment should be promptly initiated.
Hypoglycaemia: Decreases in blood glucose, in some cases clinically symptomatic and requiring hospitalisation due to loss of consciousness, have been reported during sunitinib treatment. In case of symptomatic hypoglycaemia, sunitinib should be temporarily interrupted. Blood glucose levels in diabetic patients should be checked regularly in order to assess if antidiabetic medicinal product's dosage needs to be adjusted to minimise the risk of hypoglycaemia (see Adverse Reactions).
Sodium: This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
ALVOSUNI 37.5 mg capsules contain Sunset yellow FCF (E110) and tartrazine (E102) which may cause allergic reactions.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: ALVOSUNI has minor influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Patients should be advised that they may experience dizziness during treatment with sunitinib.
