Date of report 28 Sep 2021

Reported case interaction between
Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Paclitaxel

Patient is a woman, tested HIV-positive in 2000. The treatment initially started with nevirapine, lamivudine and stavudine. In 2001, a M184I/P mutation caused virologic failure (Y181C/P and M36I/P were also found). As a result, the therapy was changed to lopinavir/ritonavir (kaletra) and lamivudine achieving sufficient virologic and immunologic suppression; The most recent CD4 count was measured to be 0.76x10*9/L (0.06x10*9/l at the start of treatment) and viral load 02-2021: < 30 copies/ml (1.25x10*6/l at the start of treatment). She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 and an initial treatment with trastuzumab and fulvestrant was started. Tumor progression was observed, so fulvestrant was switched out for pertuzumab and paclitaxel was added (starting at 24-12). Pertuzumab and trastuzumab were given on day 1 and paclitaxel was given on day 1, 8 and 15. One cycle had the duration of 21 days. Paclitaxel was administered on day 1 and 8 of the first cycle. However on 06-01, just before day 15, the patient had to be hospitalized due to a neutropenic fever. There were also signs of a developing pancytopenia. The day 15 dosage of paclitaxel was cancelled. Cycle 2 was started on 14-01 with 75% of the original paclitaxel dose. All 3 days of the cycle were completed. Again, during this cycle, signs of pancytopenia started to show. Rehospitalization followed because of neutropenic fever, and it was discovered that a severe pancytopenia had developed; leucocyte count: 1.7x109/L (normal value 4.0-10.0x109/L) and neutrophil count: 0.5x109/L (normal value 2.0-7.5x109/L). Kaletra was discontinued and dolutegravir 50mg was started on 15-02. On 18-02, leukocyte and neutrophil count were returned to normal values and the third cycle was initiated with 50% of the original dose of paclitaxel, without signs of recurrent pancytopenia. The remaining cycles were administered at reduced dosages; the fourth cycle at 50% and the fifth and sixth cycle at 60% of the original paclitaxel dose. Cancer treatment response was successful, as tumor remission was observed. Blood count remained within acceptable range during the last three cycles, without recurrent pancytopenia. The new antiretroviral regimen resulted in adequate virologic suppression, and patient acceptation of dolutegravir was good.