Incidence, risk factors, and management of alpelisib‐associated hyperglycemia in metastatic breast cancer

Abstract

AbstractPurposeThe combination of fulvestrant with alpelisib, a PI3K inhibitor, improves progression‐free survival in metastatic hormone receptor–positive, PIK3CA‐mutant breast cancer. This study describes the incidence, risk factors, and treatment of alpelisib‐associated hyperglycemia.MethodsPatients with metastatic breast cancer who received alpelisib from 2013 to 2021 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were included in this retrospective study. Alpelisib prescription dates and patient/tumor characteristics were abstracted from medical records. Risk factors associated with hyperglycemia and alpelisib dose reduction/discontinuation were evaluated using Pearson’s χ2 tests.ResultsAmong 247 patients, baseline median body mass index was 25.4 kg/m2 and median hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was 5.5%. A total of 152 patients (61.5%) developed any‐grade hyperglycemia and 72 patients (29.2%) developed grade 3–4 hyperglycemia; median time to onset was 16 days. A total of 100 patients (40.5%) received alpelisib on a clinical trial; rates of hyperglycemia were significantly higher in patients treated as standard care versus on a clinical trial (any‐grade hyperglycemia 80.3% vs. 34.0%, grade 3–4 hyperglycemia 40.2% vs. 13.0%, p < .001). Baseline HbA1c was significantly associated with development of hyperglycemia (p < .001) and alpelisib dose reduction/discontinuation (p = .015). Among those who developed hyperglycemia, 101 (40.9%) received treatment, most commonly with metformin. A total of 49 patients (19.8%) were referred to an endocrinologist, which was associated with SGLT2 inhibitor prescription (p = .007).ConclusionsRates of hyperglycemia among patients treated with alpelisib as standard care were significantly higher than patients treated on clinical trials. Elevated baseline HbA1c is associated with alpelisib‐induced hyperglycemia and requiring dose modification. Optimization of glycemic status before alpelisib initiation should become routine practice.