Population Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Oral Tetra-Arsenic Tetra-Sulfide Formula in Pediatric Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

BACKGROUND: An oral tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfide (AS(4)S(4)) formula has been recommended as an outpatient post-remission treatment for Chinese adults with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) but limited data are available for children. In this exploratory study, we aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and safety of the AS(4)S(4) formula in children. METHODS: Eleven newly diagnosed and one relapsed pediatric patient (4–14 years of age) treated with the AS(4)S(4) formula were included. Blood samples were collected from 12 children, and drug concentrations were quantified by ICP-MS. Population pharmacokinetic analysis and Monte-Carlo simulation were performed using NONMEM software. Toxic effects were graded according to the NCI-CTCAE, Version 3. RESULTS: A total of 107 arsenic concentrations (0.1–75.0 µg L(−1)) were used for population pharmacokinetic analysis. The median (range) of estimated weight-normalized CL and volume distribution at steady-state were 45.26 (35.63–82.18) L h(−1) kg(−1) and 230.37 (85.96–495.68) L kg(−1), respectively. No patients discontinued AS(4)S(4) treatment owing to adverse events, and there were no drug-related adverse events over grades 3–4. All newly diagnosed APL patients were in MCR with a median follow-up of 28 months (range, 23 to 37 months). Both the estimated 3-year EFS and OS rates were 100%. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics and safety oral AS(4)S(4) formula was evaluated for the first time in pediatric APL. The pharmacokinetic assessment demonstrated that the dosing regimen of 60 mg/kg/d TID resulted in a higher steady-state through concentration in children than that which was achieved in adults. The results of this study indicate that the AS(4)S(4) formula is safe in newly diagnosed pediatric APL patients.