Bexarotene (TARGRETIN)

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma

• Oral: 300mg/m2 daily continuously until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

Available as 75mg capsules. Capsules should NOT be opened. Refrigerate or store at room temperature (store at 2- 25°C) and protect from light.

Retinoic Acid Derivative

Take with food

If a dose is missed, patients should be instructed to take it as soon as they can if it is within 12 hours of the missed dose. If it is over 12 hours since the missed dose, patients should skip the missed dose and resume with the next scheduled dose.

Common: Hypothyroidism, Lipid abnormalities, Fatigue, Headache.

Less Common: Anemia, Leukopenia, Dry skin, Abdominal pain, Nausea, Peripheral edema.

The adverse effects listed above are not exhaustive. Please refer to the relevant product monograph for full details.

Baseline before treatment: CBC & differential, platelets, ALT, bilirubin, fasting triglycerides, LDH, T4, TSH.

During treatment: ALT, bilirubin, and fasting triglycerides weekly after initiating treatment (until stabilization – usually 2-4 weeks). Then obtain CBC & differential, platelets, ALT, bilirubin, fasting triglycerides, TSH and T4 every 2 months.

• This drug can impact or be impacted by metabolic enzymes for absorption and excretion. Many drugs can also affect or be affected by these enzymes, so please consult with pharmacy to assess for interactions.
• Current drug interaction databases should be consulted for more information.

• Avoid in pregnancy and lactation.
• Bexarotene induces major lipid abnormalities in most patients. These must be monitored and treated during long-term therapy.
• Clinical hypothyroidism occurs in about half of all patients treated with Bexarotene. Baseline thyroid function tests should be obtained, and patients monitored during treatment.
• Vitamin A intake should be limited to less than 15,000 international units per day to avoid the typical toxicities of dry skin, irritation, arthralgias, myalgias, abdominal pain, and hepatic changes.

BC Cancer. BC Cancer Drug Manual. Bexarotene.  Vancouver, British Columbia: BC Cancer Agency. Available at: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/drug-database-site/Drug%20Index/Bexarotene_monograph_1April2014.pdf. Updated April 1, 2014. Accessed February 2, 2024.

Lexicomp. Bexarotene Monograph. In: Lexi-Drugs. Hudson, Ohio: Lexi-Comp, Inc. Available at: https://online.lexi.com/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/patch_f/1768850?cesid=akXSR3dI0sA&searchUrl=%2Flco%2Faction%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DBexarotene%26t%3Dname%26acs%3Dfalse%26acq%3D

Bexarotene. January 2, 2024. Accessed February 2, 2024.Eisai Inc. TARGRETIN® Capsules Package Insert. Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Updated April 2011.