Pentostatin (Nipent): a review of potential toxicity and its management.
Pentostatin (Nipent; SuperGen, San Ramon, CA) is a safe and well-tolerated medication but, like all chemotherapeutic agents, it may be associated with some toxicity. The toxicity seen with pentostatin is dose and schedule dependent and can be minimized by appropriate dosing. The dose of pentostatin should never exceed 4 mg/m2. A dose reduction is required for patients with renal insufficiency. Renal and neurological toxicities may occur, yet are uncommon with appropriate dosing. Nausea and vomiting also occur; however, they are usually controlled with antiemetic therapy. Like the other purine nucleoside analogs, pentostatin is an immunosuppressive drug that may increase the risk of infection, especially with opportunistic organisms. Prophylactic antibiotics should be considered when treating patients with pentostatin.
Margolis
J
J
Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Grever
M R
MR
D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D015649:Pentostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000932:Antiemetics; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015649:Pentostatin