Indication & Dosage |
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| Intravenous |
| ADVANCED NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER |
| Adult:
1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 of each 28-day cycle; or 1250 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. |
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| Intravenous |
| PANCREATIC CANCER |
| Adult:
1000 mg/m2 once wkly for up to 7 wk followed by 1 wk of rest. Continue thereafter with once wkly infusions for 3 consecutive wk out of 4. |
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| Intravenous |
| BLADDER CANCER |
| Adult:
To be given before cisplatin. 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 of each 28-day cycle. |
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| Intravenous |
| BREAST CANCER |
| Adult:
Usually in combination with a taxane such as paclitaxel: 1250 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. |
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| Intravenous |
| OVARIAN CARCINOMA |
| Adult:
To be given before carboplatin: 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. |
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| Precautions |
Children, hepatic and renal impairment. May impair ability to drive or operate machinery. Discontinue on 1st sign of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia. Prolonged infusion time (>60 minutes) and more frequent than wkly dosing may increase toxicity. Monitor CBC before every dose. Increased risk of haemolytic uraemic syndrome and/or thrombocytcpenic purpura which may lead to irreversible renal failure. |
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Potentially Life-threatening
Adverse Drug Reactions |
Bone marrow suppression as manifested by leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia and myelosuppression. Mild GI effects; rashes; renal impairment, pulmonary toxicity, influenza-like symptoms; interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary oedema. Proteinuria, haematuria and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Elevation of serum transaminase. |
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| Adverse Drug Reactions |
Oesophagitis and pneumonitis when given with radical radiotherapy to the thorax. |
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| Interactions |
May increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin when used together. |
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