Dr. Richter Discusses the Administration of Carfilzomib

Joshua Richter, MD, hematologist/oncologist, multiple myeloma, John Theurer Cancer Center, discusses the administration of carfilzomib.

Carfilzomib is a new, highly active agent approved for the treatment of patients with myeloma. Currently, carfilzomib is administered at doses up to 27 mg/m² over 2-10 minutes, though many physicians are switching to 30-minute infusion times. The rationale for this switch is that preclinical models have shown that the toxicity is related to peak dosing. By stretching out the infusion time, higher doses may be given with reduced toxicity, Richter says.

A clinical trial will look at escalating doses of carfilzomib up to 80 mg/m² by extending to 1-hour infusion.