Kisqali
Brand name: Kisqali
Chemical name: Ribociclib, formerly called LEE011
Class: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor. Ibrance and Verzenio are other CDK4/6 inhibitors used to treat breast cancer.
How it works: A kinase is a type of protein in the body that helps control cell division. Kisqali works by inhibiting the kinase and stopping cancer cells from dividing and growing.
Uses: Kisqali is used in combination with an aromatase inhibitor to treat advanced-stage or metastatic, estrogen-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that hasn’t been treated with hormonal therapy before in premenopausal, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal women; premenopausal and perimenopausal women treated with Kisqali also should be treated with a medicine to suppress ovarian function. Arimidex, Aromasin, and Femara are aromatase inhibitors.
Kisqali also is used in combination with Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant) to treat advanced-stage or metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that hasn’t been treated with hormonal therapy yet, or has grown while being treated with a different hormonal therapy, in postmenopausal women.
How it’s given: Kisqali is a pill taken by mouth.
Side effects:
- nausea
- fatigue
- diarrhea
- hair loss
- vomiting
- headache
- back pain
- low white blood cell counts
- constipation
- heart problems known as QT prolongation
- liver problems
- severe lung inflammation
Read more about Kisqali.
Reference
- Kisqali (ribociclib) prescribing information. Novartis. East Hanover, NJ. 2018. Available at: https://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/sites/www.pharma.us.novartis.com/files/kisqali.pdf (PDF)
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