What is the most important information I should know about aldesleukin?
Aldesleukin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of aldesleukin including: allergic reactions
(difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone
marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry
stools; fever or chills; or infection); capillary leak syndrome, a condition that may lead to heart attack,
severe breathing difficulties, stomach bleeding, kidney problems, and death; severe nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, and loss of appetite; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from
treatment with aldesleukin.
What is aldesleukin?
Aldesleukin (interleukin 2) is a cancer (chemotherapeutic) medication. Aldesleukin increases
certain immunological processes in the body that cause decreased growth of some types of cancer
cells.
Aldesleukin is used in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (metastatic RCC), a type
of kidney cancer) and metastatic melanoma.
Aldesleukin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using aldesleukin?
Do not take aldesleukin without first talking to your doctor if you have:
You may not be able to take aldesleukin, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Aldesleukin is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it
will be harmful to an unborn baby.
Do not use aldesleukin without first talking to your
doctor if you are
pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether aldesleukin passes into breast milk.
Do not take
aldesleukin without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
How should I use aldesleukin?
Aldesleukin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Aldesleukin is administered by intravenous (into a vein) injection.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with aldesleukin
depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any
questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical
evaluations during treatment with aldesleukin to monitor progress and side effects.
Store vials of lyophilized aldesleukin in the refrigerator. Protect the vials from light and store
them in a carton until time of use. Reconstituted or diluted aldesleukin is stable for up to 48 hours at
refrigerated and room temperatures, 2 to 25C (36 to 77F). However, since this product contains no
preservative, the reconstituted and diluted solutions should be stored in the refrigerator. Do not use any
aldesleukin products beyond the expiration date printed on the vial.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of aldesleukin.
What happens if I overdose?
If for any reason an overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact
your healthcare provider immediately.
Symptoms of a aldesleukin overdose may be similar to side effects caused by the medication,
although often more severe.
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