Safety evaluation of irinotecan: a real-world disproportionality analysis using FAERS and JADER databases during the time period 2004-2024

IntroductionIrinotecan is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for treating colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers. Despite its therapeutic efficacy, the safety profile of irinotecan necessitates continuous pharmacovigilance due to its association with severe adverse drug events (ADEs). Given i...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Siyu Lou, Huayou Chen, Zhiwei Cui, Xiyuan Zhang, Chengyu Zhu, Linmei Zhou, Yingyong Ou, Fan Zou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1516449/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850214642367856640
author Siyu Lou
Huayou Chen
Zhiwei Cui
Xiyuan Zhang
Chengyu Zhu
Linmei Zhou
Yingyong Ou
Fan Zou
author_facet Siyu Lou
Huayou Chen
Zhiwei Cui
Xiyuan Zhang
Chengyu Zhu
Linmei Zhou
Yingyong Ou
Fan Zou
author_sort Siyu Lou
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionIrinotecan is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for treating colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers. Despite its therapeutic efficacy, the safety profile of irinotecan necessitates continuous pharmacovigilance due to its association with severe adverse drug events (ADEs). Given its global use, cross‐national signal detection may reveal region‐specific risks or unrecognized adverse effects.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective pharmacovigilance analysis of irinotecan‐associated ADEs using two large spontaneous reporting systems: the U.S. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the Japan Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. ADE reports between 2004 and 2024 were extracted. Disproportionality analyses were performed using four methods: Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN), and Multi‐item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS).ResultsA total of 11,344 ADE reports from FAERS and 7,822 from JADER were identified. These reports involved 27 system organ classes (SOCs). In FAERS, the most frequently affected SOC was gastrointestinal disorders (n = 6,888), while in JADER it was blood and lymphatic system disorders (n = 3,389). Disproportionality analysis revealed 388 and 67 preferred terms (PTs) significantly associated with irinotecan in FAERS and JADER, respectively, with 38 overlapping signals. These included both expected ADEs (e.g., neutropenia, diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, stomatitis) and unexpected signals such as second primary malignancies, hyperammonaemia, and hiccups. Notable FAERS-specific signals included skin toxicity (n=100, ROR 33.89 (27.79-41.34), PRR 33.80, EBGM05 28.03, IC025 4.76), aphasia [n=65, ROR 3.57 (2.8‐4.55), PRR 3.56, EBGM05 2.90, IC025 1.47], and hepatic failure [n=56, ROR 3.09 (2.38‐4.02), PRR 3.09, EBGM05 2.48, IC025 1.24], while JADER-specific signals included fatigue [n=73, ROR 4.69 (3.71‐5.93), PRR 4.67, EBGM05 3.57, IC025 0.51], hyperammonaemia [n=67, ROR 7.24 (5.56‐9.27), PRR 7.21, EBGM05 5.32, IC025 1.10], and cholinergic syndrome [n=27, ROR 5.54 (3.76-8.16), PRR 5.53, EBGM05 3.61, IC025 0.74]. Over half of all reported ADEs occurred within one month of irinotecan administration (53.1% in FAERS, 61.7% in JADER). The median time to onset was 28 days [IQR 9‐76] in FAERS and 17 days [IQR 9‐57] in JADER.DiscussionThis comparative analysis revealed multiple consistent and unexpected signals related to irinotecan use. The findings emphasize the importance of region‐specific pharmacovigilance and the need for heightened awareness of both labeled and unlabeled toxicities. Our results support continued monitoring and further investigation into temporal patterns and regional differences in irinotecan-related adverse events to enhance clinical safety.
format Article
id doaj-art-d3751db320eb4a6db07e435d6f0a005c
institution OA Journals
issn 1663-9812
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-d3751db320eb4a6db07e435d6f0a005c2025-08-20T02:08:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-06-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15164491516449Safety evaluation of irinotecan: a real-world disproportionality analysis using FAERS and JADER databases during the time period 2004-2024Siyu Lou0Huayou Chen1Zhiwei Cui2Xiyuan Zhang3Chengyu Zhu4Linmei Zhou5Yingyong Ou6Fan Zou7Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, ChinaThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of General Medicine, Yanan university Affiliated hospital, Yanan, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, ChinaIntroductionIrinotecan is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for treating colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers. Despite its therapeutic efficacy, the safety profile of irinotecan necessitates continuous pharmacovigilance due to its association with severe adverse drug events (ADEs). Given its global use, cross‐national signal detection may reveal region‐specific risks or unrecognized adverse effects.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective pharmacovigilance analysis of irinotecan‐associated ADEs using two large spontaneous reporting systems: the U.S. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the Japan Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. ADE reports between 2004 and 2024 were extracted. Disproportionality analyses were performed using four methods: Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN), and Multi‐item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS).ResultsA total of 11,344 ADE reports from FAERS and 7,822 from JADER were identified. These reports involved 27 system organ classes (SOCs). In FAERS, the most frequently affected SOC was gastrointestinal disorders (n = 6,888), while in JADER it was blood and lymphatic system disorders (n = 3,389). Disproportionality analysis revealed 388 and 67 preferred terms (PTs) significantly associated with irinotecan in FAERS and JADER, respectively, with 38 overlapping signals. These included both expected ADEs (e.g., neutropenia, diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, stomatitis) and unexpected signals such as second primary malignancies, hyperammonaemia, and hiccups. Notable FAERS-specific signals included skin toxicity (n=100, ROR 33.89 (27.79-41.34), PRR 33.80, EBGM05 28.03, IC025 4.76), aphasia [n=65, ROR 3.57 (2.8‐4.55), PRR 3.56, EBGM05 2.90, IC025 1.47], and hepatic failure [n=56, ROR 3.09 (2.38‐4.02), PRR 3.09, EBGM05 2.48, IC025 1.24], while JADER-specific signals included fatigue [n=73, ROR 4.69 (3.71‐5.93), PRR 4.67, EBGM05 3.57, IC025 0.51], hyperammonaemia [n=67, ROR 7.24 (5.56‐9.27), PRR 7.21, EBGM05 5.32, IC025 1.10], and cholinergic syndrome [n=27, ROR 5.54 (3.76-8.16), PRR 5.53, EBGM05 3.61, IC025 0.74]. Over half of all reported ADEs occurred within one month of irinotecan administration (53.1% in FAERS, 61.7% in JADER). The median time to onset was 28 days [IQR 9‐76] in FAERS and 17 days [IQR 9‐57] in JADER.DiscussionThis comparative analysis revealed multiple consistent and unexpected signals related to irinotecan use. The findings emphasize the importance of region‐specific pharmacovigilance and the need for heightened awareness of both labeled and unlabeled toxicities. Our results support continued monitoring and further investigation into temporal patterns and regional differences in irinotecan-related adverse events to enhance clinical safety.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1516449/fullirinotecanreal-world pharmacovigilance analysisFAERSJADERadverse drug event
spellingShingle Siyu Lou
Huayou Chen
Zhiwei Cui
Xiyuan Zhang
Chengyu Zhu
Linmei Zhou
Yingyong Ou
Fan Zou
Safety evaluation of irinotecan: a real-world disproportionality analysis using FAERS and JADER databases during the time period 2004-2024
Frontiers in Pharmacology
irinotecan
real-world pharmacovigilance analysis
FAERS
JADER
adverse drug event
title Safety evaluation of irinotecan: a real-world disproportionality analysis using FAERS and JADER databases during the time period 2004-2024
title_full Safety evaluation of irinotecan: a real-world disproportionality analysis using FAERS and JADER databases during the time period 2004-2024
title_fullStr Safety evaluation of irinotecan: a real-world disproportionality analysis using FAERS and JADER databases during the time period 2004-2024
title_full_unstemmed Safety evaluation of irinotecan: a real-world disproportionality analysis using FAERS and JADER databases during the time period 2004-2024
title_short Safety evaluation of irinotecan: a real-world disproportionality analysis using FAERS and JADER databases during the time period 2004-2024
title_sort safety evaluation of irinotecan a real world disproportionality analysis using faers and jader databases during the time period 2004 2024
topic irinotecan
real-world pharmacovigilance analysis
FAERS
JADER
adverse drug event
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1516449/full
work_keys_str_mv AT siyulou safetyevaluationofirinotecanarealworlddisproportionalityanalysisusingfaersandjaderdatabasesduringthetimeperiod20042024
AT huayouchen safetyevaluationofirinotecanarealworlddisproportionalityanalysisusingfaersandjaderdatabasesduringthetimeperiod20042024
AT zhiweicui safetyevaluationofirinotecanarealworlddisproportionalityanalysisusingfaersandjaderdatabasesduringthetimeperiod20042024
AT xiyuanzhang safetyevaluationofirinotecanarealworlddisproportionalityanalysisusingfaersandjaderdatabasesduringthetimeperiod20042024
AT chengyuzhu safetyevaluationofirinotecanarealworlddisproportionalityanalysisusingfaersandjaderdatabasesduringthetimeperiod20042024
AT linmeizhou safetyevaluationofirinotecanarealworlddisproportionalityanalysisusingfaersandjaderdatabasesduringthetimeperiod20042024
AT yingyongou safetyevaluationofirinotecanarealworlddisproportionalityanalysisusingfaersandjaderdatabasesduringthetimeperiod20042024
AT fanzou safetyevaluationofirinotecanarealworlddisproportionalityanalysisusingfaersandjaderdatabasesduringthetimeperiod20042024