Tagraxofusp Treatment Implications for patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm

BACKGROUND: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare, clinically aggressive, and often fatal hematologic malignancy. BPDCN is not a new entity, but it has been renamed and reclassified, which, in part, contributes to it being underrecognized. In 2018, tagraxofusp became the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy for BPDCN. OBJECTIVES: This article aims to educate oncology nurses about tagraxofusp's dosing regimen, side effects, and how to manage patients undergoing treatment in inpatient and outpatient settings. METHODS: The authors reviewed content related to the safety and clinical management of tagraxofusp, as well as content that supports patient and provider education. FINDINGS: Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is the most serious adverse event reported with tagraxofusp; therefore, nurses should stop tagraxofusp administration until all CLS-related symptoms have resolved. Hypersensitivity reactions and hepatotoxicity have also been observed in patients treated with tagraxofusp and should be monitored during treatment cycles.