Afatinib
Indications
Afatinib is used for:
Non-small cell lung carcinoma, Metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma
Adult Dose
Oral
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Metastatic Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Indicated for first-line treatment in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have nonresistant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test, Indicated for metastatic squamous NSCLC progressing after platinum-based chemotherapy
40 mg once daily, until disease progression or no longer tolerated by the patient, increased if tolerated to up to 50 mg once daily after 3 wk at initial dose.
Child Dose
Renal Dose
Renal impairment
Mild-to-moderate (CrCl 30-89 mL/min/1.73 m²): No dosage adjustment necessary
Severe (CrCl 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m²): 30 mg PO qDay
Severe (CrCl<15 mL/min/1.73 m²): Not studied
Administration
Oral Administration
Take PO on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal
Should be taken on an empty stomach. Take at least 1 hr before or 3 hr after meals. Swallow whole. For patients with/ difficulty swallowing, tab may be dispersed in approximately 100 mL of plain, non-carbonated water. No other liqd should be used. Drop the tab in water & stir w/o crushing until it disperses (approx 15 min). Drink immediately. Rinse the glass with/ another 100 mL of water & drink. Dispersed liquid may also be administered via nasogastric tube.
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity to afatinib. Dialysis patients. Severe hepatic (Child-Pugh class C) and renal (eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73m2) impairment. Lactation.
Precautions
Diarrhea: Diarrhea may result in dehydration and renal failure. Withhold Afatinib for severe and prolonged diarrhea not responsive to antidiarrheal agents.
Bullous and exfoliative skin disorders: Severe bullous, blistering, and exfoliating lesions occurred in 0.2% of patients. Discontinue for life-threatening cutaneous reactions. Withhold Afatinib for severe and prolonged cutaneous reactions.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD): Occurs in 1.6% of patients. Withhold Afatinib for acute onset or worsening of pulmonary symptoms.
Discontinue Afatinib if ILD is diagnosed.
Hepatic toxicity: Fatal hepatic impairment occurs in 0.2% of patients.
Monitor with periodic liver testing. Withhold or discontinue Afatinib for severe or worsening liver tests.
Gastrointestinal perforation: Occurs in 0.2% of patients. Permanently discontinue Afatinib in patients who develop gastrointestinal perforation.
Keratitis: Occurs in 0.7% of patients. Withhold Afatinib for keratitis evaluation. Withhold or discontinue Afatinib for confirmed ulcerative keratitis.
Embryo-fetal toxicity: This can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to the fetus and to use of effective contraception.
Monitor with periodic liver testing.
Pregnancy-Lactation
Pregnancy
Based on findings from animal studies and mechanism of action, therapy can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman; there are no available data on use in pregnant women; administration to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis at exposures approximately 0.2 times exposure in humans at recommended dose of 40 mg daily resulted in embryotoxicity and, in rabbits showing maternal toxicity, increased abortions at late gestational stages; advise pregnant women of potential risk to a fetus
Contraception
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose of afatinib
Based on results from an animal fertility study, afatinib may reduce fertility in females and males of reproductive potential
Unknown if the effects on fertility are reversible
Lactation
There are no data on presence of afatinib in human milk or effects on breastfed infant or on milk production; presence shown in milk of lactating rats; because of potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment and for 2 weeks after final dose
Interactions
P-glycoprotein (P-gp) Inhibitors: Co-administration of P-gp inhibitors can increase afatinib exposure. Reduce GILOTRIF by 10 mg per day if not tolerated.
P-gp Inducers: Co-administration of chronic P-gp inducers orally can decrease afatinib exposure. Increase GILOTRIF by 10 mg per day as tolerated.
Contraindicated (0)
Serious - Use Alternative (60)
aminolevulinic acid oral
aminolevulinic acid topical
amiodarone
atorvastatin
carbamazepine
carvedilol
clarithromycin
cyclosporine
darunavir
dipyridamole
dronedarone
edoxaban
erdafitinib
erythromycin base
erythromycin ethylsuccinate
erythromycin lactobionate
erythromycin stearate
etravirine
fosphenytoin
grapefruit
itraconazole
ketoconazole
lapatinib
lasmiditan
levoketoconazole
lopinavir
lovastatin
mefloquine
methyl aminolevulinate
mifepristone
nefazodone
nelfinavir
nifedipine
nilotinib
palifermin
paliperidone
phenobarbital
phenytoin
ponatinib
posaconazole
progesterone micronized
propafenone
propranolol
quinidine
quinine
ranolazine
rifampin
riociguat
ritonavir
saquinavir
simvastatin
sotorasib
St John's Wort
sunitinib
tacrolimus
tamoxifen
tepotinib
tipranavir
venetoclax
verapamil
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Afatinib :
>10%
Diarrhea (75-96%)
Rash/dermatitis acneiform (70-90%)
Stomatitis (30-71%)
Paronychia (11-58%)
Increased ALT (10-54%)
Decreased creatinine clearance (49%)
Increase alkaline phosphate (34-51%)
Increased AST (7-46%)
Decreased lymphocytes (38%)
Dry skin (31%)
Decreased potassium (11-30%)
Decreased appetite (25%)
Pruritus (21%)
Nausea (21%)
Epistaxis (17%)
Decreased weight (17%)
Rash/dermatitis acneiform, Grade 3 or 4 (7-16%)
Increased bilirubin (3-16%)
Diarrhea, Grade 3 or 4 (11-15%)
Vomiting (13%)
Cystitis (13%)
Decreased WBC (12%)
Cheilitis (12%)
Rhinorrhea (11%)
Paronychia, Grade 3 or 4 (1-11%)
1-10%
Stomatitis, Grade 3 or 4 (9%)
Decreased lymphocytes, Grade 3 or 4 (9%)
Decreased potassium, Grade 3 or 4 (1-8%)
Stomatitis, Grade 3 or 4 (4%)
Decreased appetite, Grade 3 or 4 (3%)
Increased AST, Grade 3 or 4 (1-3%)
Increase alkaline phosphate, Grade 3 or 4 (2-3%)
Decreased creatinine clearance (2%)
Nausea, Grade 3 or 4 (2%)
Increased ALT, Grade 3 or 4 (1-2%)
Decreased WBC, Grade 3 or 4 (1%)
Vomiting, Grade 3 or 4 (1%)
Cystitis, Grade 3 or 4 (1%)
Decreased weight, Grade 3 or 4 (1%)
Increased bilirubin, Grade 3 or 4 (1%)
<1%
Keratitis (0.8%)
Mechanism of Action
Afatinib is a selective 2nd generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the ErbB family, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1), and human epidermal growth factor receptor types 2 (HER2/ErbB2) and 4 (HER4/ErbB4), resulting in tumour growth inhibition and tumour regression.