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On average, patients received nearly the entire planned weekly TORISEL dose1

On average patients received nearly the entire planned weekly TORISEL dose

  • TORISEL patients on average received 92% (23 mg) of the planned weekly dose (25 mg) throughout the study1
  • IFN patients on average received 56% (30 MU) of the planned weekly dose (54 MU) throughout the study1*

Adverse event-related discontinuation rate2

Reason for Discontinuation TORISEL
(n=208)
IFN
(n=200)
Adverse event 7.2% 14.5%

  • Additional reasons for discontinuation from TORISEL or IFN, respectively, included symptomatic deterioration†* (6.7% vs 14.0%), patient request (3.8% vs 3.0%), death (2.9% vs 5.0%), other‡ (1.0% vs 2.0%), protocol violation (0.5% vs 1.0%), and disease progression (73.6% vs 57.5%).

Grade 3 or 4§ laboratory abnormalities and adverse reactions ≥10%3

Grade 3 or 4 Laboratory Abnormality TORISEL (n=208)
Hypertriglyceridemia 44%
Anemia 20%
Hypophosphatemia 18%
LymphopeniaII 16%
Hyperglycemia 16%
Grade 3 or 4 Adverse Reaction  
Asthenia 11%

  • TORISEL is contraindicated in patients with bilirubin >1.5 x ULN and should be used with caution when treating patients with mild hepatic impairment (bilirubin >1 – 1.5 x ULN or AST > ULN but bilirubin ≤ ULN). If TORISEL must be given to patients with mild hepatic impairment, reduce the dose of TORISEL to 15 mg/week. In a phase 1 study, the overall frequency of ≥ grade 3 adverse reactions and deaths, including deaths due to progressive disease, was greater in patients with baseline bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN.3
  • Because there is a need for dosage adjustment based upon hepatic function, assessment of AST and bilirubin levels is recommended before initiation of TORISEL and periodically thereafter.3

AST=aspartate aminotransferase

* Planned weekly dose in the phase 3 Global ARCC study was 25 mg IV weekly for TORISEL and a maximum 18 MU SubC 3 times weekly for IFN

Patients with a global deterioration or health status requiring discontinuation of treatment without objective evidence of disease progression at that time should be classified as having "symptomatic deterioration."

Other reasons for discontinuation in the TORISEL arm were disease progression and investigator's decision.
Other reasons for discontinuation in the IFN arm were lost to follow up, investigator's discretion, patient underwent surgery, and patient's request.

§ National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE), version 3.0.

|| Grade 1 toxicity may be under-reported for lymphocytes

Laboratory abnormalities and hypersensitivity information

  • In the randomized, phase 3 trial, complete blood counts (CBCs) were checked weekly, and chemistry panels were checked every 2 weeks3
  • Laboratory monitoring for patients receiving TORISEL may need to be performed more or less frequently at the physician's discretion3
  • Serum glucose, serum cholesterol, and serum triglycerides should be tested before and during treatment with TORISEL3
  • Because there is a need for dosage adjustment based upon hepatic function, assessment of AST and bilirubin levels is recommended before initiation of TORISEL and periodically thereafter3

* CTCAE, version 3.0.

Grade 1 toxicity may be under-reported for lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Demonstrated tolerability profile

Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 10% of patients who received TORISEL or INF3



* CTCAE, version 3.0.

Includes edema, facial edema, and peripheral edema.

Includes aphthous stomatitis, glossitis, mouth ulceration, mucositis, and stomatitis.

§ Includes infections not otherwise specified (NOS) and the following infections that occurred infrequently as distinct entities: abscess, bronchitis, cellulitis, herpes simplex, and herpes zoster.

|| Includes cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, urinary frequency, and urinary tract infection.

Includes eczema, exfoliative dermatitis, maculopapular rash, pruritic rash, pustular rash, rash (NOS), and vesiculobullous rash.

# Includes taste loss and taste perversion.

TORISEL Interactive Review

Participate in an interactive review of the published TORISEL phase 3 clinical trial.

Important Safety Information

  • TORISEL is contraindicated in patients with bilirubin >1.5 x ULN and should be used with caution when treating patients with mild hepatic impairment (bilirubin >1 - 1.5 x ULN or AST > ULN but bilirubin ≤ ULN). If TORISEL must be given to patients with mild hepatic impairment, reduce the dose of TORISEL to 15 mg/week. In a phase 1 study, the overall frequency of ≥ grade 3 adverse reactions and deaths, including deaths due to progressive disease, was greater in patients with baseline bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN.
  • Hypersensitivity/infusion reactions, including flushing, chest pain, dyspnea, hypotension, apnea, loss of consciousness, hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis, may occur very early in the first infusion or with subsequent infusions. Pretreat with an H1 antihistamine. TORISEL infusion should be interrupted in patients with infusion reactions and appropriate therapy given.
  • Serum glucose, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides should be tested before and during TORISEL treatment.
    • TORISEL is likely to result in hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia. This may result in the need for an increase in the dose of, or initiation of, insulin and/or oral hypoglycemic agent therapy and/or lipid-lowering agents, respectively.
  • TORISEL may result in immunosuppression. Patients should be carefully observed for the occurrence of infections, including opportunistic infections.
  • Cases of interstitial lung disease, some resulting in death, have occurred. Some patients were asymptomatic or had minimal symptoms. Patients should undergo baseline radiography prior to TORISEL therapy and periodically thereafter, even in the absence of clinical respiratory symptoms. Follow patients closely and, if clinically significant respiratory symptoms develop, consider withholding TORISEL until recovery of symptoms and radiographic improvement of pneumonitis findings. Some patients required TORISEL discontinuation and/or treatment with corticosteroids and/or antibiotics.
  • Cases of fatal bowel perforation occurred with TORISEL. These patients presented with fever, abdominal pain, metabolic acidosis, bloody stools, diarrhea, and/or acute abdomen.
  • Cases of rapidly progressive and sometimes fatal acute renal failure not clearly related to disease progression occurred in patients who received TORISEL.
  • Due to abnormal wound healing, use TORISEL with caution in the perioperative period.
  • Patients with central nervous system tumors (primary CNS tumor or metastases) and/or receiving anticoagulation therapy may be at an increased risk of developing intracerebral bleeding (including fatal outcomes) while receiving TORISEL.
  • Live vaccinations and close contact with those who received live vaccines should be avoided.
  • TORISEL may cause fetal harm. Patients and their partners should be advised to avoid pregnancy throughout treatment and for 3 months after TORISEL therapy has stopped.
  • Elderly patients may be more likely to experience certain adverse reactions including diarrhea, edema and pneumonia.
  • The most common (incidence ≥30%) adverse reactions observed with TORISEL are: rash (47%), asthenia (51%), mucositis (41%), nausea (37%), edema (35%), and anorexia (32%). The most common laboratory abnormalities (incidence ≥30%) are anemia (94%), hyperglycemia (89%), hyperlipemia (87%), hypertriglyceridemia (83%), elevated alkaline phosphatase (68%), elevated serum creatinine (57%), lymphopenia (53%), hypophosphatemia (49%), thrombocytopenia (40%), elevated AST (38%), and leukopenia (32%).
  • Most common grades 3/4 adverse events and laboratory abnormalities included asthenia (11%), dyspnea (9%), hemoglobin decreased (20%), lymphocytes decreased (16%), glucose increased (16%), phosphorus decreased (18%), and triglycerides increased (44%).
  • Pleural effusion, hemodynamically significant pericardial effusions requiring intervention, convulsions, rhabdomyolysis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome and extravasations have been reported during postmarketing use.
  • Strong inducers of CYP3A4/5 (eg, dexamethasone, rifampin) and strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 (eg, ketoconazole, atazanavir) may decrease and increase concentrations of the major metabolite of TORISEL, respectively. If alternatives cannot be used, dose modifications of TORISEL are recommended.
  • Avoid St. John's Wort which may decrease TORISEL plasma concentrations, and grapefruit juice which may increase plasma concentrations of the major metabolite of TORISEL.
  • The combination of TORISEL and sunitinib resulted in dose-limiting toxicity (Grade 3/4 erythematous maculopapular rash, and gout/cellulitis requiring hospitalization).

Please see the full Prescribing Information for TORISEL.

References:

  1. Hudes G, Carducci M, Tomczak P, et al. Temsirolimus, interferon alfa, or both for advanced renal-cell carcinoma.
    N Engl J Med. 2007;356:2271-2281.
  2. Data on file, Pfizer Inc.
  3. TORISEL® Kit (temsirolimus) Prescribing Information, June 2011.