Ibrutinib is a first-in-class, once-daily inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase. In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ibrutinib for the treatment of adult patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy.

Melissa Logue, ANP-BC, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, and coauthors presented information on ibrutinib and discussed ways oncology nurses can guide patient care and education on managing cGVHD symptoms while on ibrutinib during a poster session at the 43rd Annual Congress in Washington, DC. The poster was titled “Nurse Management of Patients Receiving Ibrutinib for Steroid-Dependent/Refractory Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease.”

The objective of this multicenter, phase Ib, open-label study was to evaluate nursing practice patterns in managing symptom burden, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), and concomitant medications in patients receiving ibrutinib for cGVHD after failing at least one prior regimen. A total of 42 patients with a median age of 56 years (range = 19–74 years) who had three or more prior regimens for cGVHD received ibrutinib dosed at 420 mg/day until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Patients and providers used an online messaging system and study visit forms to manage AEs and concomitant medications.

Patients received ibrutinib for a median of 4.4 months (range = 0.2–24.9 months). Researchers reported that most patients (88%) had cGVHD with multiple organs involved, including mouth (86%), skin (81%), gastrointestinal system (33%), and liver (17%).

A total of 28 of the 42 patients were considered responders. Study results showed that 32% of responders (n = 9) had a complete response, and the rate of sustained response for at least 20 weeks was 71% (n = 20). Of the total 42 patients, 62% (n = 26) achieved corticosteroid doses of less than 0.15 mg/kg per day by week 52 while on ibrutinib.

Nurse Management of Adverse Events and Medications

Oncology nursing management of TEAEs and concomitant medications requires ongoing communication between healthcare providers and patients. Oncology nurses can use education to guide patients on ways to manage their cGVHD symptoms while on ibrutinib treatment, including AEs (see Table 1).

Nurses also need to guide patient education on concomitant medications, including cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A inhibitors (see Table 2), anticoagulants, and antiplatelet drugs. The 42 patients in the study were taking a median of 13 concomitant medications within the first 10 days of study drug administration, including prednisone (100%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (79%), acyclovir (71%), and oxycodone (45%).

Table 1. Management of Adverse Events in Patients With cGVHD Taking Ibrutinib

Adverse Eventa

Ibrutinib U.S. Prescribing Information (USPI)

Nursing Best Practicesb

Fatigue

  • Interrupt ibrutinib therapy if AE is grade 3 or higher
  • Once AE resolves to grade 1 or baseline (recovery), reinitiate ibrutinib at starting dose (420 mg)
  • If AE reoccurs, reduce dose by 140 mg/day, with a second reduction (140 mg/day) if needed
  • Discontinue after two dose reductions if AE persists or recurs
  • Increase exercise routines
  • Take ibrutinib at bedtime

Diarrhea

  • Antidiarrheals for drug-related diarrhea (i.e., not related to infection)

Muscle spasms

  • Physical therapy
  • Stretching
  • Increase electrolytes (e.g., potassium, magnesium) as much as possible

Pneumonia

  • Prophylaxis according to standard of care
  • Monitor and evaluate for fever and infections; treat appropriately
  • Increase activity
  • Pulmonary exercises
  • Prophylactic medications
  • Treat/prevent pneumococcal pneumonia with pneumococcus vaccinations, penicillin, erythromycin
  • Treat/prevent pneumocystis pneumonia (fungal pneumonia) with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, dapsone, pentamidine, atovaquone

a Experienced by at least 20% of patients with cGVHD as listed in the ibrutinib USPI

b Institutional guidelines from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, and Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA

Table 2. Management With Concomitant CYP3A Inhibitors

Concomitant CYP3A Inhibitors

USPI Recommended Ibrutinib Dose Adjustment

Oncology Nursing Patient Education

Moderate CYP3A inhibitor

420 mg once daily

or

modify dose based on AE profile as recommended

  • Instruction on medication schedule
  • Communicate with clinical pharmacists/study nurses
    • Taper off prior to enrollment
    • Adjust doses based on drug interactions
    • Perform additional education and patient teaching
  • Managing concomitant medications and drug interactions
    • Avoid any foods that may interfere with systemic ibrutinib levels (e.g., grapefruit juice)
  • Possible interactions of any new medications
  • Remind patients to discuss any other medications with their physician to address potential drug interactions

Voriconazole

200 mg twice daily

Posaconazole

suspension 100 mg once daily

or 100 mg twice daily

or 200 mg twice daily

280 mg once daily

or

modify dose based on AE profile as recommended

Posaconazole

suspension 200 mg 3 times daily or

400mg 2 times daily

or IV injection 300 mg once daily or

delayed-release tablets 300 mg once daily

140 mg once daily

or

interrupt dose based on AE profile as recommended

Other strong CYP3A inhibitors

AVOID concomitant use or interrupt ibrutinib if inhibitors such as anti-infectives will be used ≤7 days; after discontinuation of a CYP3A inhibitor, resume previous dose of ibrutinib

Concomitant Corticosteroids and Immunosuppressants

Clinical Study Experience (Miklos 2017)

Prednisone

Tacrolimus

Cyclosporine A

Mycophenolate mofetil

Sirolimus

Taper as clinically indicated