Equivalent Dose Of Prednisone Research Articles

Dexamethasone is Associated with a Lower Incidence and Severity of Cytokine Release Syndrome Compared with Other Corticosteroid Regimens When Given as Premedication for Glofitamab Monotherapy in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Large B-Cell Lymphoma (LBCL)

Background: Glofitamab, a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody with a novel 2:1 (CD20:CD3) format, induced frequent and durable complete responses (CRs) with a manageable safety profile in pivotal expansion cohorts of an ongoing Phase I/II study (NCT03075696) in patients (pts) with R/R LBCL (Dickinson et al. NEJM 2022, Falchi et al. ASCO 2023). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a potentially life-threatening toxicity caused by immune activation that can be triggered non-specifically by T-cell engaging therapies. As previously reported, corticosteroid (steroid) premedication was required to prevent or mitigate CRS in pts treated with glofitamab. Dexamethasone (Dex) was mandated in one expansion cohort to assess if this could reduce the rate and severity of CRS versus other steroids. Here, we report data from the dose-escalation and expansion cohorts in pts with R/R LBCL who received Dex only versus non-Dex premedication. Methods: Pts with R/R LBCL (diffuse LBCL not otherwise specified [DLBCL NOS], high-grade B-cell lymphoma [HGBCL], primary mediastinal LBCL [PMBCL], or LBCL arising from follicular lymphoma [trFL]) and ≥2 prior therapies received 1000mg obinutuzumab pretreatment (Gpt) 7 days prior to the first glofitamab dose. IV glofitamab was administered with step-up dosing during Cycle (C) 1 (Day 8, 2.5mg; Day 15, 10mg) followed by the target dose (30mg) on Day 1 of C2-12 (21-day cycles; 8.4 months). Steroid premedication (80mg IV methylprednisolone, or equivalent dose of prednisone [100mg] or prednisolone [100mg], or 20mg IV Dex) was given at least 60 minutes prior to Gpt and each glofitamab dose. Responses were assessed using Lugano criteria (Cheson et al. JCO 2014). CRS events were graded by ASTCT criteria (Lee et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019). Results: As of May 1, 2023, 145 pts with R/R LBCL had received glofitamab, including 33 (22.8%) pts (DLBCL NOS, n=24 [72.7%]; HGBCL, n=2 [6.1%]; trFL, n=7 [21.2%]) who received Dex premedication before each glofitamab dose (Dex only cohort) and 112 (77.2%) pts (DLBCL NOS, n=81 [72.3%]; HGBCL, n=5 [4.5%]; PMBCL, n=6 [5.4%]; trFL, n=20 [17.9%]) who had not received Dex premedication before each glofitamab dose (non-Dex cohort). In the Dex only and non-Dex cohorts, median age was 73.0 years (range: 27-86) and 66.0 years (range: 21-90), and 26/33 (78.8%) pts and 83/112 (74.1%) pts had Ann Arbor stage III/IV disease, respectively. Median number of prior therapies was 3.0 for both cohorts. Ten (30.3%) and 37 (33.0%) pts had previously received chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and 6 (18.3%) and 22 (19.6%) pts had received autologous stem cell transplant in the Dex only and non-Dex cohorts, respectively. Median number of glofitamab cycles was 5.0 in both cohorts. CRS of any grade occurred in 48.5% of pts in the Dex only cohort and 73.2% of pts in the non-Dex cohort, and CRS leading to serious adverse events occurred in 5 (15.2%) and 27 (24.1%) pts, respectively. In both cohorts, CRS events were mostly low grade and primarily occurred during C1 (Table; Figure). Recurring Grade (Gr) ≥2 CRS was not observed in the Dex only cohort and 6 (5.4%) pts had recurring Gr ≥2 CRS in the non-Dex cohort. Median time to CRS onset and median time to resolution were similar in the two cohorts. Treatment discontinuation rate was lower in the Dex only cohort (n=21, 63.6%) versus the non-Dex cohort (n=80, 71.4%), mainly due to progressive disease (Dex only cohort, n=12 [36.4%]; non-Dex cohort, n=52 [46.4%]). In the DLBCL NOS and trFL population, the best overall response assessed by Independent Review Committee was similar between the Dex only (n=31) and non-Dex (n=101) cohorts, with CR reported in 14 (45.2%) and 44 (43.6%) pts, and 12 (38.7%) and 34 (33.7%) pts remaining in CR at data cutoff, respectively. The estimated event-free rate among complete responders at 12 months after the first CR was 83.1% (95% CI: 61.5-100.0) in the Dex only cohort and 77% (95% CI: 63.8-90.2) in the non-Dex cohort. Conclusions: The incidence, severity, and seriousness of CRS after glofitamab administration in pts with R/R LBCL were numerically lower with Dex premedication versus premedication with other steroid regimens. Response rates in the Dex only cohort were similar to those reported in the non-Dex cohort. We therefore propose Dex as the steroid of choice for premedication to prevent or mitigate CRS in pts with LBCL treated with glofitamab monotherapy, considering its half-life and potency.

Multiple Immunosuppressants for Immune-related Acholia in a Patient with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Immunotherapy-related adverse events (irAEs) such as hepatitis or cholestasis have been well recognized. In contrast, acholia was not previously reported as an irAE with a lack of standard treatment. We presented a case of a 68-year-old man with metastatic colon cancer that progressed after several chemotherapy sessions with targeted agents. He received nivolumab plus regorafenib (REGONIVO) as salvage treatment. However, he reported clay-colored stools and jaundice after 3 months of REGONIVO treatment. Computed tomography (CT) revealed no significant biliary tract dilation. Laboratory tests ruled out viral hepatitis or autoimmune hepatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed multiple filling defects of blood clot formation, and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage was ineffective. An irAE presenting as acholia and hyperbilirubinemia was diagnosed. Subsequently, the patient was initially administered a corticosteroid only, with an equivalent dose of prednisone (1 mg/kg/day); however, this treatment had only limited effect. After the addition of multiple immunosuppressants, including mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus, the severity of hyperbilirubinemia declined and acholia was resolved. This case demonstrated that irAEs can present as acholia and hyperbilirubinemia without significant biliary obstruction. Although the mechanism of such an unusual irAE remains unclear, it seems to be refractory to corticosteroid treatment alone. A more aggressive strategy, such as multiple immunosuppressants, may be advisable.

Development of a web tool to calculate the cumulative dose of glucocorticoids

IntroductionGlucocorticoids are associated with serious side effects related to dosing and time of use. Unfortunately, there is no standard method for determining glucocorticoid exposure, especially in patients undergoing long-term treatment. ObjectiveThe aim of this work was to create a free and easy-to-use web application to calculate, in a systematic way, the total cumulative dose of corticosteroids. MethodsThe total cumulative dose is calculated as the sum of all periods of treatment with different doses of corticosteroids, and is expressed as the equivalent dose of prednisone in mg. Glucocorticoid doses during periods in which the available information is missing or incomplete are estimated by systematic assumptions. ResultsA simulation exercise using standard patterns of steroid use in polymyalgia rheumatica, and giant cell arteritis showed that even when the period of no information reached 50% of the time, the accuracy of the calculator had a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE)<7%. ConclusionThis tool simplifies and standardizes the glucocorticoids cumulative dose calculation, thereby minimizing bias in the assessment of glucocorticoid cumulative dose.

Effectiveness of Steroid Treatment for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The best way to administer steroids for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is still unclear. The present study was aimed at estimating the efficacy of steroids by intratympanic, systemic, and combined therapy (CT) routes. A systematic literature search was performed from 1950 to October 2019 for randomized controlled trials comparing the use of intratympanic, systemic, and combined steroid therapy for SSHL. The outcomes of recovery rate and pure tone average (PTA) improvement were assessed by random-effects and fixed-effects meta-analysis. A total of 20 articles identified from 7 countries were eligible for analysis. Although no significant difference in recovery rate was observed between intratympanic steroid therapy (IST) and systemic steroid therapy (SST), IST did demonstrate better hearing improvement, as evidenced by a higher PTA than SST. Compared with SST, CT comprising IST and SST had significant recovery rate improvement. Patients treated with CT had a significantly higher PTA than those treated with SST. Through subgroup analysis based on the equivalent dose of prednisone, it was shown that CT led to a significantly higher PTA than SST only in the high-dose CT versus high-dose SST groups and moderate-dose CT versus high-dose SST groups. Moderate and high dose of CT could accelerate hearing improvement in SSHL.

A Phase I Trial of Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibition with INCB039110 in Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (aGVHD)

Background: Corticosteroids are considered standard first-line systemic therapy for patients with aGVHD, but this approach is effective in only approximately half of all cases. For patients who progress or do not respond to corticosteroids, no specific agent has been identified as standard, and regimens are typically selected based on investigator experience and patient co-morbidities. In preclinical models, JAK inhibition has been shown to impair production of cytokines as well as the differentiation and trafficking of T cells implicated in the pathogenesis of aGVHD. Retrospective studies have suggested that JAK1/JAK2 inhibition with ruxolitinib treatment provides clinical benefit in patients with steroid-refractory GVHD (Zeiser et al, Leukemia 2015;29:2062-2068). Herein, we report preliminary safety results from a prospective randomized, parallel-cohort, open-label phase 1 trial evaluating the potent and selective JAK 1 inhibitor INCB039110 in patients with aGVHD.Methods: Male or female patients 18 years or older who underwent their first allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) from any donor source and developed grades IIB-IVD aGVHD were eligible for the study. Patients were randomized 1:1 to either a 200 or 300 mg oral daily dose of INCB039110 in combination with corticosteroids, and were stratified based on prior treatment status (treatment-naive [TN] versus steroid-refractory [SR]). The primary endpoint of the study was safety and tolerability; secondary endpoints included overall response rate at Days 14, 28, 56, and 100, non-relapse mortality, and pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluations. Patients were assessed through Day 28 for dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and response. A Bayesian approach was used for continuous monitoring of DLTs from Days 1-28. Treatment continued until GVHD progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal from the study. Acute GVHD was graded according to MN-CIBMTR criteria; adverse events (AEs) were graded according to NCICTCAE v 4.03.Results: Between January and June 2016, 31 patients (TN, n=14; SR, n= 17) were randomized. As of July 25, 2016, data were available from 30 patients who received an oral daily dose of 200 mg (n=14) or 300 mg (n=16) INCB039110 in combination with 2 mg/kg methylprednisolone (or equivalent dose of prednisone). The median durations of treatment were 60.8 days and 56.5 days for patients receiving a daily dose of 200 mg and 300 mg INCB039110, respectively. One DLT of Grade 3 thrombocytopenia was reported. The most frequently reported AEs included thrombocytopenia/platelet count decrease (26.7%), diarrhea (23.3%), peripheral edema (20%), fatigue (16.7%), and hyperglycemia (16.7%). Grade 3 or 4 AEs occurred in 77% of patients and with similar frequency across dose groups and included cytomegalovirus infections (n=3), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (n=3), and sepsis (n=3). Five patients had AEs leading to a fatal outcome, including multi-organ failure (n=2), sepsis (n=1), disease progression (n=1), and bibasilar atelectasis, cardiopulmonary arrest, and respiratory distress (n=1); none of the fatal events was attributed to INCB039110. Efficacy and PK evaluations are ongoing and will be updated at the time of presentation.Conclusion: The oral, selective JAK1 inhibitor INCB039110 can be given safely to steroid-naive or steroid-refractory aGVHD patients. The safety profile was generally consistent in both dose groups. Biomarker evaluation, PK, and cellular phenotyping studies are ongoing. The recommended phase 2 dose will be selected and reported based on PK studies and final safety data. DisclosuresSchroeder:Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Khoury:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Jagasia:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Therakos: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding. Ali:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding. Schiller:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding. Arbushites:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Delaite:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yan:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rhein:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Perales:Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Chen:Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. DiPersio:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding.

Osteoporosis in steroid-dependent asthma

Patients on prolonged corticosteroid therapy are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Some patients with severe asthma are difficult to wean off corticosteroids and are therefore at risk of developing bony complications due to steroids. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of cumulative steroid dosage and duration of therapy with osteoporosis. We obtained bone mineral density studies using dual photon absorptiometry, and radiographs of the lumbar spine of 16 steroid-dependent patients with asthma. Patients with conditions affecting bone metabolism were excluded. We studied 16 male steroid-dependent patients with asthma who received 4 to 41 grams equivalent dose of prednisone over a period of 1 to 15 years. The overall prevalence rate for abnormal age-matched bone mineral density was 50%. Abnormal bone mineral density was more commonly noted in the lumbar spine (38%) than in the femoral neck (19%). The lowest dose of corticosteroid associated with a decrease in bone mineral density was a cumulative steroid dose of 5.6 equivalent grams-prednisone. Prolonged corticosteroid therapy can cause significant osteoporosis among male patients with steroid-dependent asthma. Bone loss due to corticosteroid therapy occurs at different rates at different bony sites.

Effect of treatment on T-cell function in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

T‐cell functions were studied in vitro on enriched T‐lymphocyte populations obtained from three groups of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): (a) untreated, (b) treated with chlorambucil, and (c) treated with chlorambucil and prednisone. The results were compared to age‐matched controls and patients without CLL on comparable doses of prednisone. T cells obtained from untreated and chlorambucil‐treated patients showed significantly decreased responses to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) at short‐term cultures (4 d) and in the mixed lymphocyte response (MLR). The lymphocyte responses to PHA, after 8 d in culture, were not significantly decreased. T cells obtained from CLL patients treated with chlorambucil and prednisone showed markedly reduced responses to MLR and to PHA at both time intervals. These responses were significantly less than those of cells obtained in the same manner from untreated or chlorambucil‐treated patients with CLL or from patients with bronchial asthma treated with equivalent doses of prednisone. These results suggest that T cells from patients with CLL are particularly susceptible to inhibitory effects of corticosteroids. An increased susceptibility to infection has been reported in patients with CLL treated with chlorambucil and prednisone. The marked suppression of lymphocyte responses to PHA and in MLR demonstrated in this group of patients may play a role in increasing susceptibility to infections.

Corticosteroids in liver disease: studies on the biological conversion of prednisone to prednisolone and plasma protein binding.

The conversion of prednisone to the biologically active corticosteroid prednisolone and the degree of plasma protein binding of prednisolone were studied in 22 patients with acute or chronic liver disease and in eight control subjects. In patients whose disease was active at the time of study, as judged by elevated serum levels of bilirubin and transaminase, significantly higher levels of plasma prednisolone were obtained after prednisolone administration than after equivalent doses of prednisone. In addition, the amount of unbound drug in the plasma was higher in patients with active disease. There was a significant correlation between the extent of plasma protein binding of prednisolone and the serum albumin concentration. Azathioprine did not affect the plasma binding of prednisolone in vitro. The plasma half-life of prednisolone was prolonged in two of three patients with chronic liver disease studied. These results suggest that in patients with acute hepatitis or active chronic liver disease there is impairment of reduction of the 11-oxo group of prednisone, and also impaired ring A reduction of prednisolone. Thus, incomplete conversion of prednisone to prednisolone occurs, which is a necessary step for biological activity; on the other hand there is also impairment of prednisolone degradation. These, together with low serum albumin concentrations which are associated with higher levels of circulating unbound prednisolone, result in quite different levels of biologically active corticosteroids compared with equivalent doses of prednisone or prednisolone in subjects without liver disease. The findings have important practical implications for the use of corticosteroids in patients with active liver disease.