Active Ingredient: Gemcitabine
Gemcitabine, in combination with paclitaxel, is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer who have relapsed following adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Prior chemotherapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated.
For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:
Intravenous
1,250 - 1,250 mg per m² of body surface area (BSA)
From 1,250 To 1,250 mg per m² of body surface area (BSA) once every 7 day(s) for 8 day(s)
Gemcitabine in combination with paclitaxel is recommended using paclitaxel (175 mg/m²) administered on Day 1 over approximately 3-hours as an intravenous infusion, followed by gemcitabine (1250 mg/m²) as a 30-minute intravenous infusion on Days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. Dose reduction with each cycle or within a cycle may be applied based upon the grade of toxicity experienced by the patient. Patients should have an absolute granulocyte count of at least 1,500 (x 106/l) prior to initiation of gemcitabine + paclitaxel combination.
Periodic physical examination and checks of renal and hepatic function should be made to detect non- haematological toxicity. Dosage reduction with each cycle or within a cycle may be applied based upon the grade of toxicity experienced by the patient. In general, for severe (Grade 3 or 4) non-haematological toxicity, except nausea/vomiting, therapy with gemcitabine should be withheld or decreased depending on the judgement of the treating physician. Doses should be withheld until toxicity has resolved in the opinion of the physician.
For cisplatin, carboplatin, and paclitaxel dosage adjustment in combination therapy, please refer to the corresponding Summary of Product Characteristics.
For all indications, the patient must be monitored before each dose for platelet and granulocyte counts. Patients should have an absolute granulocyte count of at least 1,500 (x 106/l) and platelet count of 100,000 (x 106/l) prior to the initiation of a cycle.
Dose modifications of gemcitabine within a cycle should be performed according to the following tables:
Dose modification of gemcitabine within a cycle for breast cancer, given in combination with paclitaxel:
| Absolute granulocyte count (x 106/l) | Platelet count (x 106/l) | Percentage of standard dose of gemcitabine (%) |
|---|---|---|
| ≥1,200 and | >75,000 | 100 |
| 1,000- <1,200 or | 50,000-75,000 | 75 |
| 700 - <1,000 and | ≥50,000 | 50 |
| <700 or | <50,000 | Omit dose* |
* Treatment omitted will not be re-instated within a cycle. Treatment will start on day 1 of the next cycle once the absolute granulocyte count reaches at least 1,500 (x106/l) and the platelet count reaches 100,000 (x106/l).
The gemcitabine dose should be reduced to 75% of the original cycle initiation dose, in the case of the following haematological toxicities:
30-minute intravenous infusion.
Liability Disclaimer : RxReasoner has utilized reasonable care in providing content and services that are accurate, complete and up to date. However, RxReasoner does not accept any responsibility or liability about it. The content and services of RxReasoner are for informational purposes only and they are not intended to be a substitute for the knowledge, expertise, skill, and judgment of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, or other healthcare professionals involved in patient care. RxReasoner offers no medical advice. Users are responsible for the use of the provided content. A shown indication or treatment should not be construed to indicate that the medication is safe, appropriate, or effective in any given patient or under any particular circumstances. The absence of an indication or treatment should not roule out the existence of other appropriate medications. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medicament. RxReasoner is not liable for any damages allegedly sustained arising out of the use of its content and services.
