Global Medical Manager LEO Pharma 92210, Saint-Cloud, Ile-de-France, France
Background: Many anticancer drugs' adverse events (AE) are common/known. There are some publications about the risk of thrombocytopenia induced by anticancer drugs and guidelines/algorithms recommend considering the risk of thrombocytopenia when initiating a cancer-associated-thrombosis (CAT) treatment.
Aims: The aim of this work was to check all the anticancers SmPCs (Summary of Product Characteristics) for the risk of thrombocytopenia.
Methods: All SmPCs of anticancer drugs for lung cancer were checked on the EMA website. All thrombocytopenia adverse events (AE) from any organ were collected. The frequency (F) of AE experienced were the following: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1000); very rare ( < 1/10,000).
Results: Of the 39 identified anticancer drugs for lung cancer, 51.3% (20/39) had a thrombocytopenia AE. (all F). 46.2% (18/39) had very common/common thrombocytopenia AE in their SmPCs. Finally, only few anticancer drugs (2) had uncommon/rare thrombocytopenia AE in their SmPCs. From a regimen perspective, there is a risk of synergic AE. As an example, carboplatin+paclitaxel+bevacizumab regimen was accumulating several risks of thrombocytopenia.
Conclusion(s): This review of SmPCs reported that thrombocytopenia is a potential common AE in many of anticancer drug. it seems reasonable to consider the potential risk of thrombocytopenia induced by anticancer drugs, before/during CAT treatment when managing thrombosis with an anticoagulant.