The FDA has approved Akynzeo (Helsinn/Eisai), an oral fixed-dose combination of the substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK₁) receptor antagonist netupitant and the serotonin-3 (5-HT₃) receptor antagonist palonosetron, for prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in adults. Akynzeo is the first product to combine drugs from these two classes. Palonosetron (Aloxi) is also available as a single agent for prevention of chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Netupitant is the second substance P/NK₁ receptor antagonist to be approved in the US; aprepitant (Emend) was the first.

The FDA has approved a 0.016% gel formulation of the nitrogen mustard mechlorethamine (Valchlor – Actelion) for second-line topical treatment of patients with stage IA or IB mycosis fungoides, the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Topical nitrogen mustard has been used off-label for decades for this indication, usually as a pharmacy-compounded ointment, but no clinical trials evaluating its efficacy and safety have been done. Mechlorethamine is also available in an injectable formulation (Mustargen – Recordati) for the same and other indications.

FDA approval of Valchlor was based on a randomized, non-inferiority trial in 260 patients with stage IA, IB, or IIA mycosis fungoides comparing it to a 0.02% mechlorethamine compounded ointment, both applied once daily for up to 1 year. Response rates, based on a composite assessment of index lesion severity, were slightly higher with the gel (59% vs. 48%, which met prespecified criteria for noninferiority). Based on a Kaplan-Meier analysis, the estimated time to a 50% response rate was shorter with the gel than with the compounded ointment (26 weeks vs. 42 weeks). It was also estimated that at least 90% of the responses in both treatment arms would be maintained for ≥10 months, the maximum follow-up period in the trial.

No serious drug-related adverse effects were observed, and no systemic absorption of the drug was detected. About 20% of patients treated with the gel and about 17% of those treated with the ointment withdrew from the study because of skin irritation, which has always been the most troublesome side effect of topical mechlorethamine.1

A thin layer of mechlorethamine gel should be applied to each affected area of the skin once daily. The drug should be stopped if skin ulceration, blistering, or moderately severe or severe dermatitis occurs. Treatment can be restarted at a frequency of once every 3 days for 1 week and, if tolerated, can be increased to every other day for another week, and then to once daily. The gel should be stored in the refrigerator and applied within 30 minutes of removing it from the refrigerator. The cost of a 60-g tube is $2900.2

1. SR Lessin et al. Topical chemotherapy in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: positive results of a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial testing the efficacy and safety of a novel mechlorethamine, 0.02%, gel in mycosis fungoides. JAMA Dermatol 2013; 149:25.
2. Approximate WAC. WAC = wholesaler acquisition cost or manufacturer’s published price to wholesalers; WAC represents a published catalogue or list price and may not represent an actual transactional price. Source: AnalySource® Monthly. April 5, 2015. Reprinted with permission by First Databank, Inc. All rights reserved. ©2015. www.fdbhealth.com/policies/drug-pricing-policy.

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Aprepitant (Emend - Merck), the first substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK₁) receptor antagonist to be approved by the FDA, is now available for oral use with corticosteroids and selective serotonin (5-HT₃) receptor antagonists to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by highly emetogenic anticancer drugs such as cisplatin.

The tables in this article list drugs used for treatment of cancer in the USA and Canada and their major adverse effects. The choice of drugs in Table I is based on the opinions of Medical Letter consultants. Some drugs are listed for indications for which they have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In some cases, such as elderly patients or those with many co-morbid illnesses, the regimen of choice might not be suitable. For many of the cancers listed, surgery and/or radiation therapy may be the treatment of choice or may also be part of the management. Anticancer drugs and their adverse effects are listed in Table II on page 46. A partial list of brand names appears on page 52.

The tables in this article list drugs used for treatment of cancer in the USA and Canada. The choices of drugs in Table 1 is based on the opinions of Medical Letter consultants. Some drugs are listed for indications for which they have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For many of the cancers listed, surgery and/or radiation therapy are also part of the management of the disease.

Bexarotene, a retinoid analog, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral treatment of dermatologic manifestations of refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

The tables that follow list drugs used for treatment of cancer in the USA and Canada and their major adverse effects. The choice of drugs in Table I is based on the opinions of Medical Letter consultants. Some drugs are listed for indications for which they have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For most of the cancers listed, surgery and/or radiation therapy are part of the management of the disease. Anticancer drugs and their adverse effects are listed in Table II.

Several currently available antiemetic drugs can prevent vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. Anticancer drugs that cause vomiting are listed in the table below.