Eflornithine Hydrochloride (3 brand names, 3 dosage forms, 3 routes)
Available dosage forms: TABLET, INJECTABLE, CREAM.
Routes of administration: ORAL, INJECTION, TOPICAL.
Brand Names
- IWILFIN
- ORNIDYL
- VANIQA
Indications and Usage
IWILFIN (eflornithine) is indicated to reduce the risk of relapse in adult and pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) who have demonstrated at least a partial response to prior multiagent, multimodality therapy including anti-GD2 immunotherapy.
Contraindications
None.
Adverse Reactions
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Myelosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] Hearing Loss [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
Mechanism of Action
Eflornithine is an irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines and a transcriptional target of MYCN. Polyamines are involved in differentiation and proliferation of mammalian cells and are important for neoplastic transformation. Inhibition of polyamine synthesis by eflornithine restored the balance of the LIN28/Let-7 metabolic pathway, which is involved in regulation of cancer stem cells and glycolytic metabolism, by decreasing expression of the oncogenic drivers MYCN and LIN28B in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. In vitro, eflornithine induced senescence and suppressed neurosphere formation in MYCN-amplified and MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma cells, indicating a cytostatic effect. Treatment with eflornithine prevented or delayed tumor formation in mice injected with limiting dilutions of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells.