Table 1.

Infection risk, drug interaction and prophylactic considerations associated with the use of therapeutic agents for acute leukemia

Chemotherapy/BiologicalUseInfection riskInteractionRecommendations
Vinca alkaloids ALL Regimen related Inhibits CYP3A4 Avoid with azole 
Alkylating agents ALL Regimen related CYP3A4/2C Avoid with azole 
BCR-ABL TK inhibitors (imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, ponatinib) Ph+ ALL Modest risk: bacterial infections, CMV, PJP, HBV reactivation CYP3A4 inhibitor No clear benefit from routine prophylaxis
Screen for HBV infection
Avoid with azole
Monitor QTc 
Anti-CD19 bispecific T-cell engager (blinatumomab) ALL HSV, VZV, CMV, PJP, PML, fungal per NCCN  Consider ACV and PJP prophylaxis
Screen for HBV 
Anti-CD22 antibody drug conjugate (inotuzumab) ALL Risk similar to anti-CD20  No clear benefit from routine prophylaxis
Screen for HBV infection
High risk for VOD 
CD19 CAR-T (tisagenlecleucel) ALL Increased risk for IFI, PJP, prolonged IgG hypogammaglobulinemia in long-term; distinguish infection from CRS  Acyclovir viral prophylaxis
PJP prophylaxis
Screen for chronic HBV
Consider levofloxacin and fluconazole prophylaxis
Consider anti-mold azole if high-dose steroids or prolonged neutropenia 
BCL-2 inhibitor (venetoclax) AML Possible increased risk of fungal infections in absence of antifungal prophylaxis CYP3A4 Avoid with azole
If azole is indicated dose reduce venetoclax (>50%) 
IDH1/2 inhibitor (ivosidenib, enasidenib) AML No clear increased risk of infection; distinguish infection from differentiation syndrome  Avoid with azole
Monitor QTc 
Hedgehog pathway inhibitor (glasdegib) AML No data CYP3A4 Avoid with azole
Monitor QTc 
Anti-CD33 antibody drug conjugate (gemtuzumab) AML Prolonged myelosuppression  Monitor QTc
High risk for VOD 
FLT3-TK inhibitor (midostaurin and gilteritinib) AML No significant increased risk of fungal infection CYP3A4 Monitor QTc
Monitor for midostaurin toxicity and use posaconazole TDM 
Chemotherapy/BiologicalUseInfection riskInteractionRecommendations
Vinca alkaloids ALL Regimen related Inhibits CYP3A4 Avoid with azole 
Alkylating agents ALL Regimen related CYP3A4/2C Avoid with azole 
BCR-ABL TK inhibitors (imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, ponatinib) Ph+ ALL Modest risk: bacterial infections, CMV, PJP, HBV reactivation CYP3A4 inhibitor No clear benefit from routine prophylaxis
Screen for HBV infection
Avoid with azole
Monitor QTc 
Anti-CD19 bispecific T-cell engager (blinatumomab) ALL HSV, VZV, CMV, PJP, PML, fungal per NCCN  Consider ACV and PJP prophylaxis
Screen for HBV 
Anti-CD22 antibody drug conjugate (inotuzumab) ALL Risk similar to anti-CD20  No clear benefit from routine prophylaxis
Screen for HBV infection
High risk for VOD 
CD19 CAR-T (tisagenlecleucel) ALL Increased risk for IFI, PJP, prolonged IgG hypogammaglobulinemia in long-term; distinguish infection from CRS  Acyclovir viral prophylaxis
PJP prophylaxis
Screen for chronic HBV
Consider levofloxacin and fluconazole prophylaxis
Consider anti-mold azole if high-dose steroids or prolonged neutropenia 
BCL-2 inhibitor (venetoclax) AML Possible increased risk of fungal infections in absence of antifungal prophylaxis CYP3A4 Avoid with azole
If azole is indicated dose reduce venetoclax (>50%) 
IDH1/2 inhibitor (ivosidenib, enasidenib) AML No clear increased risk of infection; distinguish infection from differentiation syndrome  Avoid with azole
Monitor QTc 
Hedgehog pathway inhibitor (glasdegib) AML No data CYP3A4 Avoid with azole
Monitor QTc 
Anti-CD33 antibody drug conjugate (gemtuzumab) AML Prolonged myelosuppression  Monitor QTc
High risk for VOD 
FLT3-TK inhibitor (midostaurin and gilteritinib) AML No significant increased risk of fungal infection CYP3A4 Monitor QTc
Monitor for midostaurin toxicity and use posaconazole TDM 

ACV, acyclovir; BCL-2, B-cell lymphoma 2; CAR-T, chimeric antigen receptor T cell; CMV, cytomegalovirus; CRS, cytokine release syndrome; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HSV, herpes simplex virus; IDH, isocitrate dehydrogenase; IgG, immunoglobulin G; Ph+, Philadelphia chromosome–positive; PJP, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia; PML, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; TK, tyrosine kinase; VOD, veno-occlusive disease; VZV, varicella zoster virus.

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