Efficacy of Cemiplimab as Adjuvant or Neoadjuvant Therapy in the Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer in the White population. Unfortunately, the prognosis of advanced cSCC is poor, and management can be challenging. Until recently, the choice of systemic medications was limited, and those that were available had modest efficacy. Cemiplimab is an anti-programmed cell-death protein 1 inhibitor and the first immunotherapeutic agent approved for the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced cSCC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cemiplimab when used as adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy in patients treated at our institution.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with locally advanced or metastatic cSCC who were treated with cemiplimab as adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy at a single institution between February 2019 and November 2022 was performed. Response to treatment was objectively assessed based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1, criteria. The primary end point was objective response rate. Secondary endpoints included time to observed response, disease-control rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, and adverse effects of therapy.

RESULTS

A total of 6 patients were identified with a median age of 79 years (range, 51-90 years). Four patients had locally advanced cSCC, and 2 had distant metastasis. Cemiplimab was used as adjuvant therapy in 3 patients and neoadjuvant therapy in 2 patients. There was 1 patient in which it was used for limb salvage, who would have otherwise required an amputation. Objective response rate, complete response, and partial response were 66% (4 of 6), 33% (2 of 6), and 33% (2 pf 6), respectively. Average time to observed response was 2.9 months. Disease-control rate was 83% (5 of 6), and average progression-free survival was 10 months. Toxicity was reported in 2 patients, both of which were grade 1 severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Cemiplimab has established its utility in the treatment of advanced cSCC, demonstrating clinical efficacy while generally having a tolerable adverse effect profile. Our preliminary results suggest that cemiplimab has potential as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy in combination with surgery for treatment of cSCC.

The addition of doxycycline to fluoroquinolones for bacterial prophylaxis in autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

Bacterial prophylaxis with a fluoroquinolone (FQ) during autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is common, although not standardized among transplant centers. The addition of doxycycline (doxy) to FQ prophylaxis was previously linked to reduced neutropenic fever and bacteremia in multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing ASCT although several confounders were present. We compared the incidence of neutropenic fever and bacteremia between MM patients variably receiving prophylaxis with FQ alone and FQ-doxy during ASCT.

METHODS

Systematic retrospective chart review of MM patients who underwent ASCT between January 2016 and December 2021. The primary objective was to determine the effect of bacterial prophylaxis on neutropenic fever and bacteremia within 30 days of ASCT. Multivariable logistic regression for neutropenic fever and univariate logistic regression for bacteremia accounted for differences in subject characteristics between groups.

RESULTS

Among 341 subjects, 121 received FQ and 220 received FQ-doxy for prophylaxis. Neutropenic fever developed in 67 (55.4%) and 87 (39.5%) subjects in the FQ and FQ-doxy groups, respectively (p = .005). Bacteremia was infrequent, with 5 (4.1%) and 5 (2.3%) cases developing in the FQ and FQ-doxy groups, respectively (p = .337). Among Gram-negative bacteremia events, 7/7 Escherichia coli strains were FQ-resistant, and 5/7 were ceftriaxone-resistant.

CONCLUSION

The FQ-doxy prophylaxis group had fewer cases of neutropenic fever than the FQ group, however, there was no significant difference in bacteremia. High rates of antibiotic resistance were observed. An updated randomized controlled trial investigating appropriate prophylaxis for ASCT in the context of current oncology standards and changing antimicrobial resistance rates is warranted.

First-in-Human Phase 1b Trial of Quinacrine Plus Capecitabine in Patients With Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Quinacrine plus a fluoropyrimidine has in vivo efficacy against metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This phase 1b trial evaluated the combination of quinacrine plus capecitabine in patients with treatment-refractory mCRC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using a modified Simon accelerated titration design, adults with treatment-refractory mCRC were treated with capecitabine 1000 mg/m² twice daily for 14/21-day cycle, and escalating doses of quinacrine 100 mg daily, 100 mg twice daily, and 200 mg twice daily for 21 days. The primary endpoint was identifying the maximum tolerated dose, determining tolerability and safety. In an expansion cohort, it was overall response rate and time to tumor progression (TTP).

RESULTS

Ten patients (median age of 60 years) were treated in phase 1b. The first 2 quinacrine dosing levels were well tolerated. Dose-limiting toxicities were seen in 3 patients treated with quinacrine 200 mg twice daily. Five additional patients tolerated quinacrine 100 mg twice daily without further dose-limiting toxicities, thus establishing the maximum tolerated dose. Seven additional expansion-cohort patients enrolled onto the study before quinacrine manufacturing ceased within the United States. Five patients experienced stable disease, 1 partial response, and 10 disease progression. Median TTP overall was 2.12 months and median overall survival 5.22 months for the 17 patients.

CONCLUSION

Capecitabine and quinacrine can be safely administered at the maximum tolerated dose of capecitabine 1000 mg/m² by mouth twice daily on days 1-14 and quinacrine 100 mg by mouth twice daily on days 1-21 of a 21-day cycle in mCRC patients. Although the expansion study was halted early, TTP was in line with other studies of refractory mCRC, suggesting activity of this regimen in heavily pretreated patients.

Identifying the Optimal Fractionation Schedules for Improved Response Rates and Survival in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma Treated with Ipilimumab and Radiotherapy

Objective:

There is a growing body of evidence that combining ipilimumab with higher doses of radiotherapy may improve the response rates and survival in patients with metastatic melanoma compared to lower doses of radiotherapy. However, the dose cutoff at which improved outcomes are more likely to occur has not been properly identified.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 100 patients treated with ipilimumab and radiotherapy for metastatic melanoma at a single institution from May 2011 to January 2017. Demographic, clinical, and treatment factors, including the biological equivalent dose (BED) with an α/β of 7, were recorded. Endpoints of interest included infield and global complete response (CR) after the completion of radiation and ipilimumab based on the RECIST criteria (v1.1) and 12-month overall survival (OS).

Results:

The BED cutoffs at which improved outcomes are more likely to occur are 46.5 Gy for infield CR, 50.9 Gy for global CR, and 46.5 Gy for 12 month OS. The least aggressive fractionation schedules used in this patient population that have a BED above the threshold for all 3 outcomes include 40 Gy in 20 fractions, 30 Gy in 6 fractions, and 24 Gy in 3 fractions.

Conclusion:

This hypothesis-generating study suggests that patients who cannot receive ablative intent radiotherapy may be more likely to benefit from concurrent radiotherapy with ipilimumab if their fractionation schedule has a BED above 46.5 - 50.9 Gy. Prospective trials evaluating this question should be considered.

Characteristics of pulmonary complications in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients treated with rituximab-containing chemotherapy and impact on survival

Patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) receiving rituximab-containing chemotherapy are at risk of developing respiratory complications, but comprehensive information on these complications and their impact on survival is lacking. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis on 123 NHL patients who received rituximab-containing chemotherapy between 2009 and 2016 in order to describe the incidence, etiologies and effect on survival of respiratory complications defined by new or worsening respiratory symptoms requiring diagnostic work-up or hospitalization. Thirty patients (24%) developed respiratory complications during a follow-up time of 825 (555–1338) days after chemotherapy. They had a higher prevalence of congestive heart failure and lung or pleural involvement at diagnosis as compared to patients who did not develop complications. Overall, 58 episodes of pulmonary complications were observed after median (interquartile) times from the first and last rituximab doses of 205 (75–580) days and 27 (14–163) days respectively. Infectious etiologies accounted for 75% of the respiratory complications, followed by heart failure exacerbation, lymphomatous involvement, and ARDS. Two Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonias were observed, and no complication was ascribed to rituximab toxicity. Respiratory complications required ICU admission in 19 cases (33%) and invasive mechanical ventilation in 14 cases (24%). Using a time-dependent Cox regression analysis, we observed that the occurrence of respiratory complications was associated with a 170% increase in death hazard (hazard ratio 2.65, 95% CI 1.60–4.40, p = 0.001). In conclusion, respiratory complications in NHL patients receiving chemotherapy are relatively frequent, severe, and mostly infectious and are associated with increased mortality.

Durable complete responses off all treatment in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma after sequential immunotherapy followed by a finite course of BRAF inhibitor therapy

We report 3 cases of durable complete response (CR) in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma who were initially treated unsuccessfully with sequential immunotherapies (high dose interleukin 2 followed by ipilimumab with or without concurrent radiation therapy). After progression during or post immunotherapy, these patients were given BRAF inhibitor therapy and developed rapid CRs. Based on the concomitant presence of autoimmune manifestations (including vitiligo and hypophysitis), we postulated that there was a synergistic effect between the prior immune therapy and the BRAF targeting agents. Accordingly, the inhibitors were gradually weaned off beginning at 3 months and were stopped completely at 9-12 months. The three patients remain well and in CR off of all therapy at up to 15 months radiographic follow-up. The institution of the BRAF therapy was associated with development of severe rheumatoid-like arthritis in 2 patients which persisted for months after discontinuation of therapy, suggesting it was not merely a known toxicity of BRAF inhibitors (arthralgias). On immunologic analysis, these patients had high levels of non-T-regulatory, CD4 positive effector phenotype T-cells, which persisted after completion of therapy. Of note, we had previously reported a similar phenomenon in patients with metastatic melanoma who failed high dose interleukin-2 and were then placed on a finite course of temozolomide with rapid complete responses that have remained durable for many years after discontinuation of temozolomide. We postulate that a finite course of cytotoxic or targeted therapy specific for melanoma given after apparent failure of prior immunotherapy can result in complete and durable remissions that may persist long after the specific cytotoxic or targeted agents have been discontinued suggesting the existence of sequence specific synergism between immunotherapy and these agents. Here, we discuss these cases in the context of the literature on synergy between conventional or targeted cytotoxic therapy and immunotherapy in cancer treatment.

Bortezomib-induced acute pancreatitis: Case report and review of the literature

Acute pancreatitis is a rare complication of chemotherapy agents. We describe the case of a patient with multiple myeloma who developed acute pancreatitis after treatment with bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor commonly used in the treatment of this disease. We reviewed the available medical literature on this topic, and found other seven similar cases, all after intravenous bortezomib. Our case is the first one occurring with the subcutaneous route of administration.

Personalized dosing via pharmacokinetic monitoring of 5-fluorouracil might reduce toxicity in early- or late-stage colorectal cancer patients treated with infusional 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy regimens

INTRODUCTION

Therapeutic plasma 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) levels are achieved in only 20% to 30% of patients with the current practice of administering 5-FU doses based on body surface area (BSA). Alternatively, 5-FU doses can be adjusted based on 5-FU pharmacokinetic (PK) monitoring. Although benefits of PK monitoring of 5-FU in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) have been reported, its utility among patients with early stage disease has not been reported.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively examined the effect of 5-FU PK monitoring in 84 CRC patients (49 stage IV and 35 stage II/III) receiving mFOLFOX6 (modifiedFOLFOX6; modified 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin protocol) or mFOLFIRI (modified 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan protocol). Forty-six of the 84 patients received 5-FU doses based on BSA and 38 received doses that were adjusted with PK monitoring. 5-FU plasma levels were measured using a nanoparticle immunoassay method.

RESULTS

5-fluorouracil PK monitoring significantly improved disease-free survival in stage II/III patients (P = .0429). There was also a trend towards improved progression-free survival among stage IV patients who had their 5-FU levels PK-monitored (P = .16). Moreover, 5-FU PK monitoring significantly reduced (P = .0437) and delayed (P = .0144) adverse effects in stage II/III patients. Toxicity occurred after the second 5-FU dose in the BSA group and after the sixth to seventh dose in the PK monitoring group. In stage IV patients, the onset of toxicities was also delayed with PK monitoring (P = .0605).

CONCLUSION

We provide evidence that PK monitoring of 5-FU is potentially beneficial for late stage and early stage CRC. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding patient benefit when treatment decisions are based on the individual patient characteristics, in this case, a patients' 5-FU levels.

Abstract 1176: Pharmacokinetic monitoring of 5-FU appears beneficial in stage II-IV colorectal cancer patients treated with different 5-FU-based chemotherapeutic regimens

The mainstay of colorectal cancer chemotherapy has been 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone or in combination with other agents. Unfortunately, therapeutic plasma 5-FU levels are achieved in only 20-30% of patients, in response to administration of 5-FU doses calculated from the patient's body surface area. Pharmacokinetic (PK) monitoring of 5-FU has been found to be beneficial for metastatic colorectal cancer patients. However, its utility among Stage II and III patients has not been reported. Purpose: We examined the impact of pharmacokinetic monitoring of 5-FU in colorectal patients with Stage II- Stage IV disease, receiving different 5-FU-based chemotherapy regimens, in terms of therapeutic response and safety. Methods: The study involved 73 colorectal cancer patients. The patients received different 5-FU based regimens; namely, FOLFOX6, mFOLFOX, FOLFIRI, and capecitabine. Thirty-five patients received 5-FU doses based on the traditional body surface area (BSA) method, which takes into account the patient's height and weight. On the other hand, in 38 patients, their 5-FU dose was adjusted based on their plasma 5-FU levels from their previous cycle. 5-FU plasma levels were measured using the commercially available OnDose test (Myriad Genetic Laboratories Inc., Salt Lake City, UT). The 5-FU levels were monitored per cycle and administered doses were adjusted accordingly until a target plasma AUC level of 20-24 mg.h/L was achieved. Results: Pharmacokinetic monitoring among Stage IV patients (n=17) had a trend toward improved survival. Out of the 8 patients that needed at least one dose adjustment, 7 of them involved increasing the 5-FU dose. 5-FU doses were not increased in the patients that did not have their 5-FU levels monitored. The ability to maximize the 5-FU dose administered without risking toxicity with PK monitoring may explain at least in part the trend towards prolonged survival in patients that underwent pharmacokinetic dose adjustment. Among Stage II and III patients, toxicities were markedly reduced by pharmacokinetic dose adjustment of 5-FU. In patients that had their doses adjusted by the BSA method, 38% experienced (7 out of 18 patients) dose-limiting toxicities, that included Grade III diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and cardiotoxicity. In contrast, none of the patients (n=19) that underwent pharmacokinetic monitoring experienced dose-limiting toxicity (Fisher's exact test, p=0.0031). The toxicities observed in the BSA group were not among the patients that received capecitabine. Conclusions: 5-FU dose adjustment in response to pharmacokinetic monitoring results in a trend towards improved survival of Stage IV patients. Moreover, dose-limiting toxicities are reduced in Stage II and III patients. The results presented point to the benefits of pharmacokinetic dose adjustment of 5-FU in clinical practice.

Citation Format: Christina Leah B. Kline, Angelique Schiccitano, Jay Zhu, Cheryl Beachler, Hassan Sheikh, Harold Harvey, Heath Mackley, Walter Koltun, Kevin McKenna, Lisa Poritz, Evangelos Messaris, David Stewart, Jeffrey Sivik, Wafik El-Deiry. Pharmacokinetic monitoring of 5-FU appears beneficial in stage II-IV colorectal cancer patients treated with different 5-FU-based chemotherapeutic regimens. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1176. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1176

Preliminary observations indicate variable patterns of plasma 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) levels during dose optimization of infusional 5-FU in colorectal cancer patients

Efforts to improve efficacy and minimize toxicity have led to pharmacokinetic monitoring of plasma 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) levels in colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We observed variation in basal 5-FU levels in 21 patients and significant variation during subsequent dose optimization. Tumor KRAS, BRAF mutations and TS mRNA levels were determined. Regimens included FOLFOX6 + Avastin (N = 8), FOLFOX6 (N = 11), FOLFIRI (N = 1) and FOLFOX4 (N = 1). Mutations identified in tumors included G12V KRAS (N = 2), G12A KRAS (N = 1), and V600E BRAF (N = 3). Six-of-eleven patients with normalized tumor TS mRNA levels < 4.0 had a 5-FU AUC of 20 mg.h/L or greater, and 80% of patients (4 of 5) with TS levels > 4.0 had a plasma 5-FU AUC of less than or equal to 20 mg.h/L. Approximately 2/3 of patients achieved therapeutic 5-FU AUC levels with 0-2 dose adjustments while a sub-group of ~1/3 of patients slowly achieved therapeutic levels (> 3-4 dose increases leading to supra-therapeutic 5-FU and subsequent reductions to lesser than original doses). Liver metastases and tumor TS levels did not fully account for variable 5-FU AUC optimization patterns. The 5-FU level during continuous infusion was half-therapeutic in one patient who received FOLFOX4. The observed heterogeneous patterns at baseline and during dose optimization of 5-FU levels suggest variations in 5-FU metabolism among treated patients. Physiological and/or genetic differences underlying heterogeneity in 5-FU levels during dose optimization require further study of patient demographics, single nucleotide polymorphisms in Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPD), TS, or other genes that impact 5-FU metabolism and gene expression changes in liver after 5-FU therapy.

Effect of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sunitinib, sorafenib, dasatinib, and imatinib) on blood glucose levels in diabetic and nondiabetic patients in general clinical practice

Tyrosine kinase is a key enzyme activity utilized in many intracellular messaging pathways. Understanding the role of particular tyrosine kinases in malignancies has allowed for the design of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which can target these enzymes and interfere with downstream signaling. TKIs have proven to be successful in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and other malignancies. Scattered reports have suggested that these agents appear to affect blood glucose (BG). We retrospectively studied the BG concentrations in diabetic (17) and nondiabetic (61) patients treated with dasatinib (8), imatinib (39), sorafenib (23), and sunitinib (30) in our clinical practice. Mean declines of BG were dasatinib (53 mg/dL), imatinib (9 mg/dL), sorafenib (12 mg/dL), and sunitinib (14 mg/dL). All these declines in BG were statistically significant. Of note, 47% (8/17) of the patients with diabetes were able to discontinue their medications, including insulin in some patients. Only one diabetic patient developed symptomatic hypoglycemia while on sunitinib. The mechanism for the hypoglycemic effect of these drugs is unclear, but of the four agents tested, c-kit and PDGFRβ are the common target kinases. Clinicians should keep the potential hypoglycemic effects of these agents in mind; modification of hypoglycemic agents may be required in diabetic patients. These results also suggest that inhibition of a tyrosine kinase, be it c-kit, PDGFRβ or some other undefined target, may improve diabetes mellitus BG control and it deserves further study as a potential novel therapeutic option.

Case series: Paclitaxel (P) and pegfigrastim (PF)-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HSP) in breast cancer patients (pts)

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Background: P, a chemotherapeutic agent, extensively used in management of solid tumors. Although hypersensitivity reactions from P are common; HSP is rarely reported. We report 3 pts with early stage, high risk breast cancer, who developed HSP while receiving dose dense (DD) P with PF support. Methods: C#1 51 yr old woman (W) was diagnosed (Di) with triple negative (TN), infiltrating duct carcinoma (ca) with nodal metastasis. Neoadjuvant chemo (NC) with DD adriamycin 60 mg/m2 (A) and Cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 (C) was started. She completed 4 cycles of AC with PF 6 mg SQ given day 2 of each cycle without complications. Several days after her first dose of P with PF, she experienced dyspnea on exertion (DOE) and a non productive cough (NPC). CT of chest (CC) revealed ground glass opacity more in upper lungs, suggestive of HSP, and echocardiogram (echo) was within normal limits (WNL). She rapidly improved with steroid (S). C#2 46 yr w was Di with hormone positive, her 2 negative, infiltrating duct ca with nodal involvement. NC with DD AC followed by P was started. She completed 4 cycles of AC with minimal toxicity followed by DDP. After the third P infusion, she developed NPC with DOE. CC revealed diffuse interstitial prominence and echo was WNL. She rapidly improved with S. C#3 63 yr W was Di with 2.3 cm, TN, invasive duct carcinoma of left breast. NC with DD AC followed by P was started. After 2nd infusion of P, she developed hypoxia and cough; CC revealed diffuse groundglass opacities throughout lungs bilaterally, suggestive of HSP. She rapidly improved with S. Results: All 3 cases occurred in non-smoking pts without known lung/cardiac disease, treated with PF on day 2 of each cycle. Pts had abnormal CCs, were afebrile and responded quickly to steroids. Published DD experience (Citron et al) uses daily filgrastim (F), not the pegylated form which our pts received. We believe that HSP in these pts may be related to long acting growth factor stimulation of white cells and causing reversible HSP. Conclusions: Future prospective studies on taxanes using DD regimens should include a randomized design where pts given PF are compared to pts who receive F.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Incidence of peripheral neuropathy in high-risk early-stage breast cancer patients receiving dose-dense paclitaxel in central Pennsylvania

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Background: Paclitaxel (P) is an important part of chemotherapy regimens for early breast cancer. Breast cancer survivors may be left with iaotrogenic peripheral neuropathy which can affect their quality of life. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, IRB approved, medical chart review to determine the rate of peripheral neuropathy in a tertiary care practice in central Pennsylvania. Patients had biopsy proven, newly diagnosed, high risk breast cancer. Patients were treated with a standard dose dense (DD) regimen where 4 cycles of adriamycin (A) 60 mg/m2/cyclophosphamide (C) 600 mg/m2 were followed by four cycles of paclitaxel (P) 175 mg/m2 every 2 weeks (Citron et al) between 7/2006 to7/2008 at Penn State Cancer Institute. All patients who received dose dense chemotherapy by a single provider were included (n=23). No peripheral neuropathy (PN) was reported before initiating paclitaxel, but 3 of 23 patients had type II diabetes. Electronic medical charts were reviewed and data was abstracted to analyze incidence of peripheral neuropathy. These data were compared to reported published data. Results: 22 pts received dose dense AC followed by P chemotherapy. 100% completed 4 cycles of AC and 87% complete 4 cycles of P. Overall, 82% developed neuropathy (32% with grade 1, 41 % with grade 2, 9 % with grade 3). Almost 30% of patients required gabapentin for control of neuropathic pain. 35% of patients with PN had symptoms persisting >3 months after chemotherapy. Conclusions: A considerable percentage of high risk, early breast cancer patients treated with AC followed by DD paclitaxel developed at least mild neurotoxicity. Rates of Grade 3 neurotoxicity were much higher (9%) than the previous CALGB-9741 study (4%). This may be related to regional pharmacogenomic differences. Although dense dose paclitaxel has been shown to improve disease free survival, PN affects most patients treated with paclitaxel and for some patients can have a prolonged impact on their quality of life. Future studies should attempt identify which patients are at risk for severe peripheral neuropathy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Breakthrough invasive fungal infection in an immunocompromised host while on posaconazole prophylaxis: an omission in patient counseling and follow-up

Posaconazole (Noxafil ® Schering-Plough Corporation) is a triazole antifungal approved in the United States for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis and for the prophylaxis of Candida and Aspergillus infections in the immunocompromised host. Posaconazole is available only as an oral suspension. When used for the prevention of Candida and Aspergillus infections, posaconazole should be taken three times daily with a high fat meal to maximize oral absorption. Failure to take posaconazole with food will lead to subtherapeutic serum levels and decreased clinical effectiveness of the drug.

We report the case of a 49-year-old woman with acute myeloid leukemia who received 4 months of posaconazole as an outpatient for the labeled indication of prophylaxis of Candida and Aspergillus infections. During her last admission, the patient presented with an invasive sinus infection diagnosed as a mixed Aspergillus and Mucor etiology. The patient succumbed to this infection five weeks after presentation. Upon investigation it was found that the patient did not self-administer posaconazole as required in the product labeling, which may have led to drug failure in this patient. We submit this case to illustrate the importance of patient education regarding proper administration of posaconazole. The important role of the outpatient physician, nurse, and pharmacist in this setting is underscored. J Oncol Pharm Practice (2008) 14: 189—193.