Melphalan
Indications
Multiple Myeloma-Conditioning Treatment: Melphalan is indicated for use as a high-dose conditioning treatment prior to hematopoietic progenitor (stem) cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma.
Pharmacology
Melphalan is an alkylating agent of the bischloroethylamine type. As a result, its cytotoxicity appears to be related to the extent of its interstrand cross-linking with DNA, probably by binding at the N 7 position of guanine. Like other bifunctional alkylating agents, it is active against both resting and rapidly dividing tumor cells.
Dosage & Administration
Recommended Dosage for Conditioning Treatment: The recommended dose of Melphalan for conditioning treatment is 100 mg/m2/day administered over 30 minutes by intravenous infusion for 2 consecutive days (Day-3 and Day-2) prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT, Day 0). For patients who weigh more than 130% of their ideal body weight, body surface area should be calculated based on adjusted ideal body weight.
Interaction
No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted. The development of severe renal impairment has been reported in patients treated with a single dose of intravenous melphalan 140-250 mg/m 2 followed by standard oral doses of cyclosporine. Intravenous melphalan may also reduce the threshold for BCNU lung toxicity.
Contraindications
History of serious allergic reaction to melphalan.
Side Effects
Most common adverse reactions observed in at least 50% of patients treated with Melphalan are neutrophil count decreased, white blood cell count decreased, lymphocyte count decreased, platelet count decreased, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, hypokalemia, anemia, and vomiting.
Pregnancy & Lactation
Based on its mechanism of action, Melphalan can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman,
including teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality. Melphalan is a genotoxic drug and can cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans. In animal studies, melphalan was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats at doses below the recommended clinical doses. Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risk to a fetus. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are unknown. However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2-4% and of miscarriage is 15-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.
It is not known whether melphalan is present in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing children from melphalan, breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Melphalan and for 1 week after the last dose.
including teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality. Melphalan is a genotoxic drug and can cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans. In animal studies, melphalan was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats at doses below the recommended clinical doses. Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risk to a fetus. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are unknown. However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2-4% and of miscarriage is 15-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.
It is not known whether melphalan is present in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing children from melphalan, breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Melphalan and for 1 week after the last dose.
Precautions & Warnings
Bone Marrow Suppression: For patients receiving Melphalan as part of a conditioning regimen, myeloablation occurs in all patients. Do not begin the conditioning regimen if a stem cell product is not available for rescue. Monitor complete blood counts, provide supportive care for infections, anemia and thrombocytopenia until there is adequate hematopoietic recovery.
Gastrointestinal Toxicity: For patients receiving Melphalan as part of a conditioning regimen, nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea may occur in over 50% of patients. Use prophylactic antiemetic medication. Provide supportive care for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mucositis. The frequency of grade 3/4 mucositis in clinical studies was 13%. Provide nutritional support and analgesics for patients with severe mucositis.
Hepatotoxicity: Hepatic disorders ranging from abnormal liver function tests to clinical manifestations such as hepatitis and jaundice have been reported after treatment with melphalan. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease has also been reported. Monitor liver chemistries.
Hypersensitivity: Acute hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred in approximately 2% of patients who received an intravenous formulation of melphalan. Symptoms may include urticaria, pruritus, edema, and skin rashes and, in some patients, tachycardia, bronchospasm, dyspnea, and hypotension. Discontinue treatment with Melphalan for serious hypersensitivity reactions.
Secondary Malignancies: Melphalan has been shown to cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans. Secondary malignancies such as myeloproliferative syndrome or acute leukemia have been reported in multiple myeloma patients treated with melphalan-containing chemotherapy regimens. The potential benefit of Melphalan therapy must be considered against the possible risk of the induction of a secondary malignancy.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, Melphalan can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Melphalan is genotoxic, targets actively dividing cells, and was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Melphalan and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Melphalan and for 3 months after the last dose.
Infertility: Melphalan-based chemotherapy regimens have been reported to cause suppression of ovarian function in premenopausal women, resulting in persistent amenorrhea in approximately 9% of patients. Reversible or irreversible testicular suppression has also been reported.
Gastrointestinal Toxicity: For patients receiving Melphalan as part of a conditioning regimen, nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea may occur in over 50% of patients. Use prophylactic antiemetic medication. Provide supportive care for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mucositis. The frequency of grade 3/4 mucositis in clinical studies was 13%. Provide nutritional support and analgesics for patients with severe mucositis.
Hepatotoxicity: Hepatic disorders ranging from abnormal liver function tests to clinical manifestations such as hepatitis and jaundice have been reported after treatment with melphalan. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease has also been reported. Monitor liver chemistries.
Hypersensitivity: Acute hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred in approximately 2% of patients who received an intravenous formulation of melphalan. Symptoms may include urticaria, pruritus, edema, and skin rashes and, in some patients, tachycardia, bronchospasm, dyspnea, and hypotension. Discontinue treatment with Melphalan for serious hypersensitivity reactions.
Secondary Malignancies: Melphalan has been shown to cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans. Secondary malignancies such as myeloproliferative syndrome or acute leukemia have been reported in multiple myeloma patients treated with melphalan-containing chemotherapy regimens. The potential benefit of Melphalan therapy must be considered against the possible risk of the induction of a secondary malignancy.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, Melphalan can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Melphalan is genotoxic, targets actively dividing cells, and was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Melphalan and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Melphalan and for 3 months after the last dose.
Infertility: Melphalan-based chemotherapy regimens have been reported to cause suppression of ovarian function in premenopausal women, resulting in persistent amenorrhea in approximately 9% of patients. Reversible or irreversible testicular suppression has also been reported.
Use in Special Populations
Pediatric Use: Pediatric patients were not included in clinical trials. Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients.
Geriatric Use: Of the total number of subjects in the single-arm pivotal study of melphalan, 30% were 65 and over, but no patients were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. A greater incidence of engraftment syndrome was observed in older patients; 7% (3 of 43) of patients younger than 65 years old versus 28% (5 of 18) of patients 65 years old and over.
Geriatric Use: Of the total number of subjects in the single-arm pivotal study of melphalan, 30% were 65 and over, but no patients were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. A greater incidence of engraftment syndrome was observed in older patients; 7% (3 of 43) of patients younger than 65 years old versus 28% (5 of 18) of patients 65 years old and over.
Overdose Effects
Overdoses resulting in death have been reported with melphalan. Overdoses, including doses up to 290 mg/m2 , have produced the following symptoms: severe nausea and vomiting, decreased consciousness, convulsions, muscular paralysis, and cholinomimetic effects. Severe mucositis, stomatitis, colitis, diarrhea, and hemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract occur at high doses (>100 mg/m2). Elevations in liver enzymes and veno-occlusive disease occur infrequently. Significant hyponatremia, caused by an associated inappropriate secretion of ADH syndrome, has been observed. Nephrotoxicity and adult respiratory distress syndrome have been reported rarely.
The principal toxic effect is bone marrow suppression leading to leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. Hematologic parameters should be closely followed for 3 to 6 weeks. An uncontrolled study suggests that administration of autologous bone marrow or hematopoietic growth factors (i.e., sargramostim, filgrastim) may shorten the period of pancytopenia. General supportive measures together with appropriate blood transfusions and antibiotics should be instituted as deemed necessary by the physician. This drug is not removed from plasma to any significant degree by hemodialysis or hemoperfusion. A pediatric patient survived a 254 mg/m2 overdose treated with standard supportive care.
The principal toxic effect is bone marrow suppression leading to leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. Hematologic parameters should be closely followed for 3 to 6 weeks. An uncontrolled study suggests that administration of autologous bone marrow or hematopoietic growth factors (i.e., sargramostim, filgrastim) may shorten the period of pancytopenia. General supportive measures together with appropriate blood transfusions and antibiotics should be instituted as deemed necessary by the physician. This drug is not removed from plasma to any significant degree by hemodialysis or hemoperfusion. A pediatric patient survived a 254 mg/m2 overdose treated with standard supportive care.
Therapeutic Class
Cytotoxic Chemotherapy
Storage Conditions
Store melphalan at room temperature 25°C. Temperature excursions are permitted between 15-30°C. Melphalan is light-sensitive. Retain in original carton until use. Melphalan is a hazardous drug. Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures.
