Drug Interactions between Camptosar and IsonaRif

MONITOR CLOSELY: The risk of hepatotoxicity is greater when rifampin and isoniazid (INH) are given concomitantly, than when either drug is given alone. The proposed mechanism is rifampin's induction of isoniazid hydrolase, an enzyme involved in the conversion of INH to isonicotinic acid and hydrazine. Hydrazine is the proposed toxic metabolite of INH, which has been shown in animal studies to cause steatosis, hepatocyte vacuolation and glutathione depletion. Some studies have also shown that slow acetylators have a two-fold increased risk of developing antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) as compared with fast acetylators due to more available INH for direct hydrolysis to hydrazine. Theoretically, a similar reaction may occur with rifabutin and isoniazid. Additional risk factors for developing hepatotoxicity include patients with advanced age, malnutrition, existing hepatic impairment, daily alcohol consumption, female gender, HIV infection, extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and/or patients who are taking other potent CYP450-inducing agents.

MANAGEMENT: Caution and close monitoring should be considered if isoniazid (INH) is coadministered with rifampin or rifabutin. In cases where coadministration is required, careful monitoring of liver function, especially ALT and AST, should be done at baseline and then every 2 to 4 weeks during therapy, or in accordance with individual product labeling. Some manufacturers of INH recommend strongly considering its discontinuation if serum aminotransferase concentrations (AST or SGOT, ALT or SGPT) exceed 3 to 5 times the upper limit of normal. Product labeling for rifampin also recommends the immediate discontinuation of therapy if hepatic damage is suspected. INH product labeling suggests alternate drugs be used if hepatitis is attributed to INH in patients with tuberculosis. However, if INH must be used, it should only be resumed after the patient's symptoms and laboratory abnormalities have cleared. It should also be restarted in very small, gradually increasing doses and immediately withdrawn if there is any indication of recurrent liver involvement. Patients should be counseled to immediately report signs or symptoms consistent with liver damage and notified that prodromal symptoms usually consist of fatigue, weakness, malaise, anorexia, nausea, and/or vomiting.

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GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with potent inducers of CYP450 3A4 may significantly decrease the plasma concentrations of irinotecan and its pharmacologically active metabolite, SN-38. Irinotecan is partially metabolized by CYP450 3A4 to inactive substances, and induction of this process results in less of the drug available for conversion to SN-38 via hepatic carboxylesterases. Available data also suggest induction of other enzymatic pathways (e.g., UGT1A1; carboxylesterases) and drug transporters (e.g., multispecific organic anion transporter, or MRP2; mitoxantrone-resistance half transporter protein, or MXR) that may be involved in the clearance of irinotecan and/or SN-38, although the extent to which they contribute to the interaction is unknown. In a study of patients with malignant glioma, irinotecan clearance was 61% greater in the group receiving enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants (n=34) than in the group receiving other anticonvulsants (n=22). In a study of pediatric high-grade glioma patients, a 1.5-fold increase in the median clearance of irinotecan and a 20-fold decrease in the median systemic exposure to SN-38 were observed in patients receiving enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants compared to those not receiving the anticonvulsants. Patients receiving enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants in these studies also experienced milder toxicities or tolerated higher dosages of irinotecan. In a phase II clinical trial, patients receiving irinotecan for malignant glioma had an unusually low incidence of toxicity, and AUCs of irinotecan and SN-38 were 40% and 25%, respectively, of those determined previously in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. A pharmacokinetic interaction was suspected, as more than 90% of the glioma patients received concomitant enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants and/or dexamethasone, while the colorectal cancer patients did not. In a pediatric case study, irinotecan pharmacokinetics were determined in a 15-year-old boy on day 1 of two treatment cycles (50 mg/m2 daily for 5 days every 21 days)--one before and one after the addition of phenytoin. Irinotecan clearance increased by 168% and the AUC of irinotecan and SN-38 decreased by 63% and 60%, respectively, in the presence of phenytoin. Similarly, in a 14-year-old girl receiving irinotecan daily for 5 days on two consecutive weeks every 21 days for two cycles, pharmacokinetic studies on day 8 of each cycle showed that irinotecan clearance decreased by 42% and the AUC of irinotecan and SN-38 increased by 76% and 138%, respectively, following discontinuation of phenytoin just prior to cycle 2.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of irinotecan with potent CYP450 3A4 inducers should generally be avoided. Consideration should be given to substituting nonenzyme-inducing agents at least one to two weeks prior to initiation of irinotecan therapy whenever possible.

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MONITOR: Coadministration with inhibitors of CYP450 3A4 and/or UGT1A1 may increase the plasma concentrations of irinotecan and its active metabolite, SN-38. CYP450 3A4 and UGT1A1 are the isoenzymes responsible for the metabolic conversion of irinotecan to its inactive metabolite, APC. Inhibition of APC formation results in more irinotecan metabolism to SN-38, an active and toxic metabolite. High plasma levels of irinotecan and SN-38 may increase the risk of potentially fatal toxicities such as severe diarrhea, neutropenia, sepsis, and thromboembolism. In cancer patients receiving irinotecan, coadministration of ketoconazole, a potent CYP450 3A4 and UGT1A1 inhibitor, resulted in a 100% increase in the relative exposure to SN-38 and an 87% reduction in the exposure to APC. In HIV patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, coadministration of irinotecan with lopinavir-ritonavir decreased the clearance of irinotecan by 47%, increased the AUC of SN-38 by 204%, and decreased the AUC of APC by 81%.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when irinotecan is prescribed with CYP450 3A4 or UGT1A1 inhibitors. Patients should be monitored for toxicities such as diarrhea, myelosuppression, thromboembolism, and interstitial lung disease, and the irinotecan dosage adjusted accordingly or treatment discontinued as necessary.

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