Safety and efficacy of fosaprepitant in pediatric patients for prevention of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.

Abstract

e22023 Background: Aprepitant is an antiemetic that antagonizes the substance P neurokinin-1 receptor. Fosaprepitant is an intravenous prodrug of aprepitant and is FDA-approved for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in adults. Although the FDA extended approval of oral aprepitant to children and adolescents for CINV, pediatric patients have challenges obtaining aprepitant due to insurance or have difficulty taking oral medications during chemotherapy. Fosaprepitant is a logical alternative but data are lacking for safe and effective dosing in children. In 2015, fosaprepitant was added to our hospital formulary for pediatric patients receiving moderate to highly emetogenic chemotherapy. The fosaprepitant dose established was 150mg for weight ≥30kg or 3mg/kg/dose for < 30kg. There is also potential for overall cost savings to our institution. Fosaprepitant is about half the cost of aprepitant using equivalent adult doses. Methods: This retrospective chart review was considered exempt from IRB.All pediatric patients who received fosaprepitant between April 2015 and October 2016 while inpatient were included.Patients undergoing bone marrow transplant were excluded from the study.The primary objective was to determine safety of fosaprepitant. To evaluate safety, incidence of infusion related reactions related to fosaprepitant administration were assessed. Secondary objectives include efficacy of fosaprepitant in pediatric patients and evaluation of cost savings. To evaluate efficacy, the use of breakthrough antiemetics, documented emesis, and Adapted Rhodes Index for Nausea and Vomiting score were collected. Descriptive statistics were used for all data analyses on a per cycle basis. Results: A preliminary safety evaluation of 20 patients ages 9 months through 16 years received 87 doses of fosaprepitant for CINV prophylaxis.Six patients < 30kg received weight-based dosing; the other 14 patients received a dose of 150mg.One patient experienced an infusion related reaction from fosaprepitant but symptoms resolved after the infusion was stopped. Conclusions: Fosaprepitant appears to be safe and cost-effective to prevent CINV in children.