adcetris

Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Adcetris is used to treat Hodgkin"s lymphoma or anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Adcetris is given after a stem cell transplant or other cancer medications have been tried without successful treatment.

Adcetris was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on an "accelerated" basis. In clinical studies, brentuximab vedotin produced complete or partial remission in many people. However, further studies are needed to determine if this medicine can lengthen survival time.

Important information

You should not receive Adcetris if you are also receiving another cancer medicine called bleomycin (Blenoxane).

Adcetris may cause a serious viral infection of the brain that can lead to disability or death. Call your doctor right away if you have any change in your mental state, decreased vision, weakness on one side of your body, or problems with speech or walking. These symptoms may start gradually and get worse quickly.

Before taking this medicine

You should not receive Adcetris if you are allergic to brentuximab vedotin, or:

• if you are also receiving another cancer medicine called bleomycin (Blenoxane).

To make sure Adcetris is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease;

• kidney disease; or

• peripheral vascular disease such as Raynaud"s syndrome.

Do not receive Adcetris if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy during your treatment with brentuximab vedotin. Follow your doctor"s instructions about how long to prevent pregnancy after your treatment ends.

It is not known whether brentuximab vedotin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Adcetris.

How is Adcetris given?

Adcetris is injected into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

Before you receive Adcetris, you may be given other medications to prevent certain side effects that brentuximab vedotin can cause.

Adcetris is usually given once every 3 weeks for up to 16 treatment cycles, or until your body no longer responds to the medication. Follow your doctor"s dosing instructions very carefully.

Adcetris can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Adcetris. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Adcetris dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Lymphoma:

1.8 mg/kg intravenously over 30 minutes every 3 weeks.

Continue treatment until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor if you miss an appointment for your Adcetris injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid while receiving Adcetris?

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Adcetris. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

This medicine can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit). For at least 48 hours after you receive a dose, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or other surfaces. Patients and caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.

Adcetris side effects

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, chilled or feverish, or if you have itching or trouble breathing. Infusion reactions often occur within the first 24 hours after the start of your Adcetris infusion.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Adcetris: hives; wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Adcetris may cause a serious viral infection of the brain that can lead to disability or death. Call your doctor right away if you have any change in your mental state, decreased vision, weakness on one side of your body, or problems with speech or walking. These symptoms may start gradually and get worse quickly.

Also call your doctor at once if you have any of these other side effects, even if they occur several months after you receive Adcetris, or after your treatment ends.

• numbness, weakness, burning pain, tingly feeling, or loss of feeling in your arms or legs;

• low red blood cells (anemia)--pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, feeling light-headed or short of breath, trouble concentrating;

• signs of infection--fever, chills, mouth or throat pain, skin sores, cough, pain or burning when you urinate;

• signs of tumor cell breakdown--lower back pain, blood in your urine, little or no urinating; numbness or tingly feeling around your mouth; muscle weakness or tightness; fast or slow heart rate, weak pulse, confusion, fainting;

• liver or pancreas problems--severe pain in your upper stomach (may spread to your back), nausea and vomiting, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common Adcetris side effects may include:

• fever, infections, easy bruising or bleeding;

• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat;

• numbness or tingling;

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• feeling tired;

• cough; or

• skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Adcetris?

Many drugs can interact with brentuximab vedotin. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with Adcetris, especially:

• St. John"s wort;

• an antibiotic or antifungal medicine;

• antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis, HIV, or AIDS;

• heart medication;

• seizure medicine; or

• tuberculosis medications.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with brentuximab vedotin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.