Tumour-induced hypercalcaemia

Indication for Ibandronic acid

Population group: Suitable for both men and women, only adults (18 years old or older)

Treatment of tumour-induced hypercalcaemia with or without metastases.

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

2-6 mg

Route of admnistration

Intravenous

Defined daily dose

2 - 6 mg

Dosage regimen

From 2 To 6 mg once every 28 day(s)

Detailed description

Prior to treatment with ibandronic acid the patient should be adequately rehydrated with 9 mg/ml (0.9%) sodium chloride solution. Consideration should be given to the severity of the hypercalcaemia as well as the tumour type. In general patients with osteolytic bone metastases require lower doses than patients with the humoral type of hypercalcaemia. In most patients with severe hypercalcaemia (albumin-corrected serum calcium* ≥3 mmol/l or ≥12 mg/dl) 4 mg is an adequate single dose. In patients with moderate hypercalcaemia (albumin-corrected serum calcium <3 mmol/l or <12 mg/dl) 2 mg is an effective dose. The highest dose used in clinical trials was 6 mg but this dose does not add any further benefit in terms of efficacy.

* Note albumin-corrected serum calcium concentrations are calculated as follows:

Albumin-corrected serum calcium (mmol/l) = serum calcium (mmol/l) - [0.02 x albumin (g/l)] + 0.8

Or

Albumin-corrected serum calcium (mg/dl) = serum calcium (mg/dl) + 0.8 x [4 – albumin (g/dl)]

To convert the albumin-corrected serum calcium in mmol/l value to mg/dl, multiply by 4.

In most cases a raised serum calcium level can be reduced to the normal range within 7 days. The median time to relapse (return of albumin-corrected serum calcium to levels above 3 mmol/l) was 18-19 days for the 2 mg and 4 mg doses. The median time to relapse was 26 days with a dose of 6 mg.

A limited number of patients (50 patients) have received a second infusion for hypercalcaemia. Repeated treatment may be considered in case of recurrent hypercalcaemia or insufficient efficacy.

Dosage considerations

Ibandronic acid concentrate for solution for infusion should be administered as an intravenous infusion over 2 hours.

Active ingredient

Ibandronic acid belongs to the bisphosphonate group of compounds which act specifically on bone. Their selective action on bone tissue is based on the high affinity of bisphosphonates for bone mineral. Bisphosphonates act by inhibiting osteoclast activity, although the precise mechanism is still not clear. In vivo, ibandronic acid prevents experimentally-induced bone destruction caused by cessation of gonadal function, retinoids, tumours or tumour extracts.

Read more about Ibandronic acid

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