Consumer medicine information

Gemcitabine Kabi Concentrate for injection 1000 mg/26.3 mL

Gemcitabine

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Gemcitabine Kabi

Active ingredient

Gemcitabine

Schedule

S4

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Gemcitabine Kabi

Active ingredient

Gemcitabine

Schedule

S4

Name of the medicine

Gemcitabine hydrochloride.
Excipients. Concentrated injection. Sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and water for injections.
Powder for injection. Mannitol, sodium acetate, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fullchemgif/CSGEMHYD.gif

Description

Chemical name: 2'-deoxy-2', 2'-difluorocytidine monohydrochloride (β-isomer). Molecular formula: C9H11F2N3O4.HCl. MW: 299.7. CAS: 122111-03-9. Gemcitabine hydrochloride is a white to off white lyophilised powder soluble in water, slightly soluble in methanol and practically insoluble in ethanol and polar organic solvents.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics. Cytotoxic activity in cell cultures. Gemcitabine exhibits significant cytotoxic effects against a variety of cultured murine and human tumour cells. Its action is phase specific such that gemcitabine primarily kills cells that are undergoing DNA synthesis (S phase) and, under certain circumstances, blocks the progression of cells through the GI/S phase boundary. In vitro the cytotoxic action of gemcitabine is dependent on both concentration and time.
Antitumoral activity in preclinical models. In animal tumour models, the antitumour activity of gemcitabine is schedule dependent. When gemcitabine is administered daily, high mortality among the animals but minimal antitumour activity is observed. If, however, gemcitabine is given every third or fourth day, it can be administered in nonlethal doses with substantial antitumoural activity against a broad spectrum of mouse tumours.
Mechanism of action. Gemcitabine (dFdC), which is a pyrimidine antimetabolite, is metabolised intracellularly by nucleoside kinase to the active diphosphate (dFdCDP) and triphosphate (dFdCTP) nucleosides. The cytotoxic effect of gemcitabine is due to inhibition of DNA synthesis by two mechanisms of action by dFdCDP and dFdCTP. First, dFdCDP inhibits ribonucleotide reductase, which is uniquely responsible for catalysing the reactions that produce deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dCTP) for DNA synthesis. Inhibition of this enzyme by dFdCDP reduces the concentration of deoxynucleosides in general, and, in particular, dCTP. Second, dFdCTP competes with dCTP for incorporation into DNA (self potentiation).
Likewise, a small amount of gemcitabine may also be incorporated into RNA. Thus, the reduced intracellular concentration of dCTP potentiates the incorporation of dFdCTP into DNA. DNA polymerase epsilon lacks the ability to eliminate gemcitabine and to repair the growing DNA strands. After gemcitabine is incorporated into DNA, one additional nucleotide is added to the growing DNA strands. After this addition there is essentially a complete inhibition in further DNA synthesis (masked chain termination). After incorporation into DNA, gemcitabine appears to induce the programmed cell death process known as apoptosis.
Pharmacokinetics. The pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine have been examined in 353 patients in seven studies. The 121 women and 232 men ranged in age from 29 to 79 years. Of these patients, approximately 45% had nonsmall cell lung cancer and 35% were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained for doses ranging from 500 to 2,592 mg/m2 that were infused from 0.4 to 1.2 hours.
Peak plasma concentrations (obtained within 5 minutes of the end of the infusion) were 3.2 to 45.5 microgram/mL. Plasma concentrations of the parent compound following a dose of 1,000 mg/m2/30 minutes are greater than 5 microgram/mL for approximately 30 minutes after the end of the infusion, and greater than 0.4 microgram/mL for an additional hour.
Distribution. The volume of distribution of the central compartment: 12.4 L/m2 for women and 17.5 L/m2 for men (interindividual variability was 91.9%). The volume of distribution of the peripheral compartment: 47.4 L/m2. The volume of the peripheral compartment was not sensitive to gender. The plasma protein binding was considered to be negligible.
Half-life. This ranged from 42 to 94 minutes depending on age and gender. For the recommended dosing schedule, gemcitabine elimination should be virtually complete within 5 to 11 hours of the start of the infusion. Gemcitabine does not accumulate when administered once weekly.
Metabolism. Gemcitabine is rapidly metabolised by cytidine deaminase in the liver, kidney, blood and other tissues. Intracellular metabolism of gemcitabine produces the gemcitabine mono, di and triphosphates (dFdCMP, dFdCDP and dFdCTP) of which dFdCDP and dFdCTP are considered active. These intracellular metabolites have not been detected in plasma or urine. The primary metabolite 2'-deoxy-2', 2'-difluorouridine (dFdU), is not active and is found in plasma and urine.
Excretion. Systemic clearance ranged from 29.2 L/hr/m2 to 92.2 L/hr/m2 depending on gender and age (interindividual variability was 52.2%). Clearance for women is approximately 25% lower than the values for men. Although rapid, clearance for both men and women appears to decrease with age. For the recommended gemcitabine dose of 1000 mg/m2 given as a 30 minute infusion, lower clearance values for women and men should not necessitate a decrease in the gemcitabine dose.
Urinary excretion. Less than 10% is excreted as unchanged drug.
Renal clearance was 2 to 7 L/hr/m2.
During the week following administration, 92% to 98% of the dose of gemcitabine administered is recovered, 99% in the urine, mainly in the form of dFdU and 1% of the dose is excreted in faeces.
dFdCTP kinetics. This metabolite can be found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the information below refers to these cells. Intracellular concentrations increase in proportion to gemcitabine doses of 35 to 350 mg/m2/30 minutes, which give steady-state concentrations of 0.4 to 5 microgram/mL. At gemcitabine plasma concentrations above 5 microgram/mL, dFdCTP levels do not increase, suggesting that the formation is saturable in these cells.
Half-life of terminal elimination: 0.7 to 12 hours.
Parent plasma concentrations following a dose of 1,000 mg/m2/30 minutes are greater than 5 microgram/mL for approximately 30 minutes after the end of the infusion, and greater than 0.4 microgram/mL for an additional hour.
dFdU kinetics. Peak plasma concentrations (3 to 15 minutes after end of 30 minute infusion, 1,000 mg/m2): 28 to 52 microgram/mL.
Trough concentration following once weekly dosing: 0.07 to 1.12 microgram/mL, with no apparent accumulation.
Triphasic plasma concentration versus time curve, mean half-life of terminal phase, 65 hours (range 33 to 84 hr).
Formation of dFdU from parent compound: 91% to 98%.
Mean volume of distribution of central compartment: 18 L/m2 (range 11 to 22 L/m2).
Mean steady-state volume of distribution (Vss): 150 L/m2 (range 96 to 228 L/m2).
Tissue distribution: extensive.
Mean apparent clearance: 2.5 L/hr/m2 (range 1 to 4 L/hr/m2).
Urinary excretion: all.

Clinical Trials

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Single agent use. Four phase 2 single agent studies were conducted with the primary endpoint being tumour response and a secondary measure of symptomatic improvement. The studies were conducted using gemcitabine doses from 800 to 1250 mg/m2 as a single agent. The three major studies conducted resulted in uniform response rates from 19.7 to 22.5% of evaluable patients and from 17.9 to 20.5% on an intent to treat based analysis after assessment by external peer review boards. The median response duration was 7.6 to 12.7 months, while the overall median survival (for responders and non responders) was from 8.1 to 9.2 months. The major study conducted had 3 patients (2%) achieve complete response and 30 patients (20%) experience partial response out of 151 patients. The fourth trial which was much smaller, with only a total of 34 patients. The mean effective patient dose in this smaller trial was 741 mg/m2 which was lower than that in the 3 major studies (≥ 960 mg/m2), with a tendency towards dose reduction rather than dose incrementing. A response rate of 1 patient (3.2%) out of 31 evaluable patients was observed. The following shows an integrated summary of adverse events (events that occurred in ≥ 2 % of patients without causality assessment) for the 4 pivotal trials (n = 360): dyspnoea = 7.5% (27), anaemia = 6.9% (25), fever = 4.2% (15), nausea = 3.9% (14), vomiting = 3.3% (12), carcinoma of lung = 3.1% (11), pain = 2.5% (9), pneumonia = 2.5% (9), dehydration = 2.2% (8), pleural effusion = 2.2% (8) and discontinuation due to progressive disease = 53.6% (193).
Combination use. A total of 522 patients were enrolled in a phase 3 randomised trial to receive gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) (260) or single agent cisplatin (262) over a 4 week schedule. The median survival was 9.1 months (95% CI 8.3 to 10.6 months) for the GC treated patients, which was significantly superior to cisplatin treated patients (7.6 months (95% CI 6.5 to 8.2 months)) (p = 0.0040). The estimate of median time to disease progression was 5.6 months (95% CI of 4.6 to 6.1 months) for GC treated patients, which was significantly superior to cisplatin treated patients (3.7 months (95% CI 3.3 to 4.2 months)) (p = 0.0013). The overall response rate was 30.4% for GC treated patients and 11.1% for patients treated with single agent cisplatin (p < 0.0001).
A total of 135 patients were enrolled in a phase 3 randomised trial to receive GC (69) or cisplatin plus etoposide (66) over a 3 week schedule. The median survival was 8.7 months (95% CI 7.7 to 10.2 months) for the GC arm and 7.2 months (95% CI 6.1 to 9.8 months) for the patients treated with cisplatin plus etoposide, which was not significantly different. The estimate of median time to disease progression was 6.9 months (95% CI of 5.0 to 8.1 months) for GC treated patients, which was significantly superior to cisplatin plus etoposide treated patients (4.3 months (95% CI 3.5 to 4.7 months)) (p = 0.0147). The overall response rate (intent to treat) was 40.6% for GC treated patients and 21.2% for patients treated with cisplatin plus etoposide (p = 0.0167).
Pancreatic cancer. Data from two clinical trials evaluated the use of gemcitabine in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. The first trial compared gemcitabine to 5-FU in patients who had received no prior chemotherapy. A second trial studied the use of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer patients previously treated with 5-FU or a 5-FU containing regimen.
The primary efficacy parameter in these studies was clinical benefit response. Clinical benefit response is a measure of symptomatic improvement. When these studies were being conducted, a standard validated quality of life instrument was not available for the assessment of patients with pancreatic cancer. Clinical benefit is a measure of clinical improvement based on analgesic consumption, pain intensity, performance status and weight change. Definitions for improvement in these variables were formulated prospectively during the design of the two trials. A patient was considered a clinical responder if either:
i) the patient showed a > 50% reduction in pain intensity (Memorial Pain Assessment) or analgesic consumption, or a twenty point or greater improvement in performance status (Karnofsky Performance Scale) for a period of at least four consecutive weeks, without showing any sustained worsening in any of the other parameters. Sustained worsening was defined as four consecutive weeks with either an increase in pain intensity or analgesic consumption or a 20 point decrease in performance status occurring during the first 12 weeks of therapy or ii) the patient was stable on all the aforementioned parameters, and showed a marked, sustained weight gain (≥ 7% increase maintained for ≥ 4 weeks), not due to fluid accumulation.
The first study was a multicenter, prospective, single blinded, two arm, randomised comparison of gemcitabine and 5-FU in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who had received no prior treatment with chemotherapy. 5-FU was administered intravenously at a weekly dose of 600 mg/m2 for 30 minutes. The results for this randomised trial are shown in Table 1. Compared to 5-FU, patients treated with gemcitabine had statistically significant increase in symptomatic improvement, survival and time to progressive disease (23.8% vs 4.8%).
https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fulltablegif/GEMKAB01.gif The second trial was a multicenter, open label study of 63 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer previously treated with 5-FU or a 5-FU containing regimen. In this study, 27% of the 63 patients who had failed 5-FU combinations showed, with gemcitabine; a clinical benefit response and a median survival of 3.8 months.
Bladder cancer. A total of 405 patients were randomised in a phase 3 trial to receive gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) or MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, cisplatin). Two hundred patients received GC (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15; cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 2) administered intravenously over a 28 day period or MVAC (methotrexate, 30 mg/m2 on days 1, 15 and 22; vinblastine 3 mg/m2 on days 2, 15 and 22; adriamycin 30 mg/m2 on day 2; cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 2) administered intravenously over a 28 day period. The median overall survival was 12.8 months (95% CI 12.0 to 15.3 months) for patients treated with GC and 14.8 months (95% CI 13.2 to 17.2 months) for MVAC treated patients, which was not statistically significantly different. The probability of surviving beyond 12 months was estimated as 57% for the GC arm and 62% for the MVAC arm. Median time to progressive disease was 7.4 months (95% CI 6.6 to 8.1 months) for GC treated patients and 7.6 months (95% CI 6.7 to 9.1 months) for MVAC treated patients, which was not statistically significantly different. The independently reviewed, overall response rate was 49.4%, (95% CI 41.7 to 57.1%) in the GC arm and 45.7 % (95% CI 37.7 to 53.7%) in the MVAC arm (p = 0.512). The median duration of response was 9.6 months (95% CI 8.0 to 10.8 months) for GC treated patients and 10.7 months (95% CI 9.4 to 12.6 months) for MVAC treated patients, which was not statistically significantly different.
Phase 2 trials were conducted using single agent gemcitabine, administered at doses of 1200 or 1250 mg/m2 given weekly for 3 out of every 4 weeks. The response rates were 23% (95% CI 9.6 to 41.2%), 24% (95% CI 11.8 to 41.1%) and 22% (95% CI 9.8 to 38.2%). The median survivals were 9.3 months (95% CI 4.9 to 14.9 months), 12.5 months (95% CI 9.4 to 14.6 months) and 7.9 months (95% CI 5.8 to 11.6 months).
Breast cancer. Data from a pivotal study support the use of gemcitabine in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of patients with unresectable, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer who have relapsed following adjuvant anthracycline based chemotherapy. In this multicentre, open label, randomised phase 3 study, a total of 529 female patients with unresectable, recurrent or metastatic breast cancer were randomised to receive gemcitabine plus paclitaxel (GT) combination therapy (n = 266) or paclitaxel (T) monotherapy (n = 263). In the GT arm gemcitabine (1250 mg/m2) was administered intravenously over 30 to 60 minutes on days 1 and 8 of a 21 day cycle and paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) was administered intravenously over 3 hours before gemcitabine on day 1 of a 21 day cycle. In the T arm paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) was administered intravenously over 3 hours on day 1 of a 21 day cycle. Patients were included in the trial if they had relapsed after receiving either one anthracycline based chemotherapy in the adjuvant/ neoadjuvant setting or a nonanthracycline based regimen in the adjuvant/ neoadjuvant setting if use of an anthracycline was clinically contraindicated.
The study objectives were to compare overall survival, time to documented disease progression (TtDPD), progression free survival (PFS), response rates, duration of response, and toxicities between patients treated with gemcitabine plus paclitaxel combination therapy and those treated with paclitaxel monotherapy.
The primary endpoint of the planned interim analysis was time to documented progression of disease (TtDPD). Patients who died without evidence of disease progression were excluded from this analysis. Estimates of median TtDPD were 5.4 months (95% CI, 4.6 to 6.1 months) on the GT therapy arm and 3.5 months (95% CI, 2.9 to 4.0 months) on the T arm using the earlier of the dates of disease progression, derived from either the investigator's or the independent reviewers' assessment. The difference between the two treatment arms was statistically significant (p = 0.0013). GT also significantly improved progression free survival by a similar amount. This endpoint accounts for not only patients with documented disease progression but also patients who died without evidence of progression.
Median overall survival analysis showed statistically significant improvement in the gemcitabine plus paclitaxel arm compared with the paclitaxel alone arm, as demonstrated by a longer median survival (18.6 versus 15.8 months, with a hazard ratio of 0.82 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67 to 1.00, log rank p = 0.05).
The overall response rates, according to the investigator assessment were 39.3% (95% CI, 33.5% to 45.2%) on the GT arm and 25.6% (95% CI, 20.3% to 30.9%) on the T arm, which was statistically significant (p = 0.0007). Overall best study response as determined by independent review for a subset of 382 patients (72% of total patients) confirmed that GT treated patients had statistically significant improvement in overall response compared with patients treated with T monotherapy.
There were no significant treatment differences in the patient assessed quality of life measures, brief pain inventory and Rotterdam symptom checklist.
Ovarian cancer. A total of 356 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer who had failed first line platinum containing therapy at least 6 months after treatment discontinuation were randomised to receive gemcitabine plus carboplatin (GCb) (178) or carboplatin (Cb) (178). Patients received either GCb (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin administered after gemcitabine on day 1 with a target AUC of 4.0 mg/mL) or Cb (target AUC of 5.0 mg/mL administered on day 1) every 21 days until disease progression or until a maximum of six cycles of treatment had been given.
Patients on the GCb arm had a statistically significant improvement in Time to Progressive Disease (TtPD) compared with those on the Cb arm (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.90; log rank p-value = 0.0038) with a median TtPD of 8.6 months (95% CI, 8.0 to 9.7 months) on the GCb arm versus 5.8 months (95% CI, 5.2 to 7.1 months) on the Cb arm. Patients on the GCb arm had a statistically significant improvement in Time to Treatment Failure (TtTF) compared with those on the Cb arm (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.92; log rank p-value = 0.0072). The median TtTF was 7.0 months (95% CI, 5.8 to 8.1 months) on the GCb arm and 4.8 months (95% CI, 4.1 to 5.6 months) on the Cb arm.
Median overall survival was 18.0 months (95% CI, 16.2 to 20.2) for GCb arm and 17.3 months (95% CI, 15.2 to 19.3) for the Cb arm (hazard ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.23). The trial was not powered to detect an effect on overall survival and treatments received after completion of study therapy were not balanced between arms.

Indications

Gemcitabine Kabi is indicated for treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer.
Gemcitabine Kabi is indicated for treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Gemcitabine is also indicated for patients with 5-FU refractory pancreatic cancer.
Gemcitabine Kabi, alone or in combination with cisplatin, is indicated for treatment of patients with bladder cancer.
Gemcitabine Kabi, 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.
Gemcitabine Kabi, in combination with carboplatin, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma, who have relapsed > 6 months following platinum based therapy.

Contraindications

Gemcitabine is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient, or to any of the excipients.

Warnings

Prolongation of the infusion time and the increased dosing frequency have been shown to increase toxicity. In common with other cytotoxic agents, gemcitabine has demonstrated the ability to suppress the bone marrow. Leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anaemia are expected adverse events. However, myelosuppression is short lived.
Gemcitabine has been reported to cause somnolence. Patients should be cautioned against driving or operating machinery until it is established that they do not become somnolent.
Reports of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), capillary leak syndrome (CLS), adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) with potentially severe consequences have been reported in patients receiving gemcitabine as single agent or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. These events can be related to vascular endothelial injury possibly induced by gemcitabine. Gemcitabine should be discontinued and supportive measures implemented if any of these develop during therapy (see Adverse Effects).
In addition to ARDS, other severe pulmonary effects such as interstitial pneumonitis and pulmonary oedema have been reported in patients receiving gemcitabine as single agent or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. Gemcitabine should be discontinued and supportive measures provided if these effects develop during therapy (see Adverse Effects).

Precautions

Patients receiving therapy with gemcitabine must be monitored closely. Laboratory facilities should be available to monitor drug tolerance. Resources to protect and maintain a patient compromised by drug toxicity may be required.
Interstitial pneumonitis together with pulmonary infiltrates has been seen in less than 1% of the patients. In such cases, gemcitabine treatment must be stopped. Steroids may relieve the symptoms in such situations. Severe rarely fatal pulmonary effects, such as pulmonary oedema, interstitial pneumonitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have been reported as less common or rare. In such cases, cessation of gemcitabine treatment is necessary. Starting supportive treatment at an early stage may improve the situation.
Use in pregnancy. (Category D)
Cytotoxic agents can produce spontaneous abortion, foetal loss and birth defects. Gemcitabine must not be used during pregnancy. Studies in experimental animals (mice and rabbits at doses up to 4.5 and 1.6 mg/m2 /day IV respectively, administered during the period of organogenesis) have shown teratogenicity and embryotoxicity. Perinatal and postnatal studies in mice at doses up to 4.5 mg/m2/day have shown retarded physical development in the offspring. Women of childbearing age receiving gemcitabine should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant, and to inform the treating physician immediately should this occur.
Use in lactation It is not known whether the drug is excreted in human milk, however, studies in lactating rats have shown gemcitabine and/or its metabolites in the milk 10 minutes after an IV dose to the dam. The use of gemcitabine should be avoided in nursing women because of the potential hazard to the infant.
Laboratory tests. Therapy should be started cautiously in patients with compromised bone marrow function. As with other oncolytics, the possibility of cumulative bone marrow suppression when using combination or sequential chemotherapy should be considered.
Patients receiving gemcitabine should be monitored prior to each dose for platelet, leucocyte and granulocyte counts. Suspension or modification of therapy should be considered when drug induced marrow depression is detected. For guidelines regarding dose modifications (see Dosage and Administration). Peripheral blood counts may continue to fall after the drug is stopped.
Laboratory evaluation of renal and hepatic function should be performed periodically. Raised liver transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)) and alkaline phosphatase are seen in approximately 60% of the patients. These increases are usually mild, transient and not progressive, and seldom lead to cessation of treatment (see Adverse Effects). Increased bilirubin (WHO toxicity degrees 3 and 4) was observed in 2.6% of the patients. Gemcitabine should be given with caution to patients with impaired hepatic function.
Administration of gemcitabine in patients with concurrent liver metastases or a pre-existing medical history of hepatitis, alcoholism or liver cirrhosis may lead to exacerbation of the underlying hepatic insufficiency.
A few cases of renal failure, including haemolytic uraemic syndrome have been reported (see Adverse Effects). Gemcitabine should be administered with caution to patients with impaired renal function. Gemcitabine treatment should be withdrawn if there is any sign of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, such as rapidly falling haemoglobin levels with simultaneous thrombocytopenia, elevation of serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, urea or LDH. Renal failure may be irreversible despite withdrawal of the gemcitabine treatment and may require dialysis.

Interactions

Radiotherapy. Concurrent (given together or ≤ 7 days apart), toxicity associated with this multimodality therapy is dependent on many different factors, including dose of gemcitabine, frequency of gemcitabine administration, dose of radiation, radiotherapy planning technique, the target tissue and target volume. In a single trial where gemcitabine at a dose of 1,000 mg/m2 was administered concurrently for up to 6 consecutive weeks with therapeutic thoracic radiation to patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer, significant toxicity in the form of severe, and potentially life threatening, oesophagitis and pneumonitis was observed, particularly in patients receiving large volumes of radiotherapy (median treatment volumes 4,795 cm3). The optimum regimen for safe administration of gemcitabine with therapeutic doses of radiation has not yet been determined.
Radiation injury has been reported on targeted tissues (e.g. oesophagitis, colitis and pneumonitis) in association with both concurrent and nonconcurrent use of gemcitabine.
When given in combination with paclitaxel, cisplatin, or carboplatin, the pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine were not altered. Gemcitabine had no effect on paclitaxel pharmacokinetics.

Adverse effects

The most commonly reported adverse drug effects associated with gemcitabine treatment include: nausea with or without vomiting; raised liver transaminases (AST/ALT) and alkaline phosphatase, reported in approximately 60% of patients; proteinuria and haematuria reported in approximately 50% patients; dyspnoea reported in 10 to 40% of patients (highest incidence in lung cancer patients); and allergic skin rashes, which occur in approximately 25% of patients and are associated with itching in 10% of patients.
The frequency and severity of the adverse effects are affected by the dose, infusion rate and intervals between doses (see Precautions). Dose limiting adverse effects are reductions in platelet, leucocyte and granulocyte counts (see Dosage and Administration; Dose reduction).
Slightly higher frequencies of serious adverse events were observed in females, reflecting the gender differences in pharmacokinetic parameters (see Pharmacology; Pharmacokinetic properties). However, the pattern was inconsistent, with some events being more frequently reported for males than females. In analysis of WHO toxicity no important differences were observed, although slightly higher frequencies of haematologic toxicity were found in females.
(Frequencies. Very common: > 10%; common: > 1% and < 10%; uncommon: > 0.1% and < 1%; rare: > 0.01% and < 0.1%; very rare: < 0.01%.)
Blood and lymphatic system disorders. Very common: leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, (neutropenia grade 3 = 19.3%; grade 4 = 6%). Common: febrile neutropenia. Very rare: thrombocytosis.
Immune system disorders. Very rare: anaphylactoid reaction (see Contraindications).
Nervous system disorders. Common: somnolence. Very rare: posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (see Warnings).
Cardiac disorders. Rare: myocardial infarct, heart failure, arrhythmia (predominantly supraventricular in nature).
Vascular disorders. Rare: hypotension. Very rare: peripheral vasculitis and gangrene, and capillary leak syndrome (see Warnings).
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders. Very common: dyspnoea. Uncommon: pulmonary oedema, bronchospasm, interstitial pneumonitis (see Precautions). Rare: adult respiratory distress syndrome (see Warnings and Precautions).
Gastrointestinal disorders. Very common: nausea, vomiting. Common: diarrhoea, constipation.
Hepatobiliary disorders. Very common: elevation of liver transaminases (AST/ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (see Precautions). Common: increased bilirubin (see Precautions). Rare: elevation of γ-glutamyl transferase (GCT).
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders. Very common: allergic skin rash, frequently associated with pruritus. Common: alopecia, ulceration of mucous membrane of the mouth, itching. Rare: scaling, vesicle and sore formation, ulceration. Very rare: severe skin reactions including desquamation and bullous skin eruptions.
Renal and urinary disorders. Very common: mild proteinuria, haematuria. Rare: renal failure, haemolytic uraemic syndrome (see Precautions).
General disorders and administration site conditions. Very common: oedema/ peripheral oedema, influenza-like symptoms; most commonly fever, headache, back pain, shivering, muscle pain, asthenia and anorexia. Cough, rhinitis, perspiration, malaise and sleeping difficulties have also been reported. Common: fever, asthenia. Very rare: facial oedema.
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications. Radiation toxicity and radiation recall (see Interactions with Other Medicines).
Gemcitabine plus cisplatin. An increase was seen in the following grade 3 and 4 events (gemcitabine + cisplatin vs MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin)) (see Table 2).
https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fulltablegif/GEMKAB02.gif Gemcitabine plus paclitaxel. An increase was seen in the following grade 3 and 4 events (gemcitabine + paclitaxel vs paclitaxel alone) (see Table 3).
https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fulltablegif/GEMKAB03.gif Gemcitabine plus carboplatin. An increase was seen in the following grade 3 and 4 events (gemcitabine + carboplatin vs carboplatin alone) (see Table 4).
https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fulltablegif/GEMKAB04.gif Toxicity. In repeat dose studies of up to 6 months duration in mice and dogs, the principal finding was haematopoietic suppression. These effects were related to the cytotoxic properties of the drug and were reversible when treatment was withdrawn. The degree of the effect was schedule and dose dependent.
Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, fertility. Cytogenetic damage has been produced by gemcitabine in an in vivo assay. Gemcitabine induced forward mutation in vitro in a mouse lymphoma (L5178Y) assay. Long-term animal studies have not been conducted to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of gemcitabine.
Gemcitabine caused a dose and schedule dependent hypospermatogenesis in male mice (0.9 mg/m2/day or 10.5 mg/m2 weekly administration IP). Although animal studies have shown an effect of gemcitabine on male fertility (1.5 mg/m2/day IP or 30 mg/m2 IP weekly), no effect has been seen on female fertility (up to 4.5 mg/m2/day IV).

Dosage and Administration

Nonsmall cell lung cancer. Single agent use. Adults. The optimum dose schedule for gemcitabine has not been determined. The recommended dose of gemcitabine is 1,000 mg/m2, given by 30 minute intravenous infusion. This should be repeated once weekly for three weeks, followed by a one week rest period. This four week cycle is then repeated. Dosage reduction with each cycle or dose omission within a cycle may be applied based upon the amount of toxicity experienced by the patient.
Combination use. Adults. Gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin has been investigated using two dosage regimens. One regimen used a three week schedule and the other used a four week schedule.
The three week schedule used gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m2, given by 30 minute intravenous infusion, on days 1 and 8 of each 21 day cycle. The three week schedule used cisplatin 75 to 100 mg/m2 on day 1 of each 21 day cycle, administered before the gemcitabine dose. Dosage reduction with each cycle or dose omission within a cycle may be applied based upon the amount of toxicity experienced by the patient.
The four week schedule used gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2, given by 30 minute intravenous infusion, on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28 day cycle. The four week schedule used cisplatin 75 to 100 mg/m2 on day 1 of each 28 day cycle, administered after the gemcitabine dose. Dosage reduction with each cycle or dose omission within a cycle may be applied based upon the amount of toxicity experienced by the patient.
Pancreatic cancer. Adults. The recommended dose of gemcitabine is 1,000 mg/m2, given by 30 minute intravenous infusion. This should be repeated once weekly for up to 7 weeks followed by a week of rest. Subsequent cycles should consist of injections once weekly for 3 consecutive weeks out of every 4 weeks. Dosage reduction with each cycle or dose omission within a cycle may be applied based upon the amount of toxicity experienced by the patient.
Bladder cancer. In patients with bladder cancer who cannot tolerate cisplatin based combinations, gemcitabine monotherapy should be considered a treatment option.
Single agent use. Adults. The recommended dose of gemcitabine is 1,250 mg/m2, given by 30 minute intravenous infusion. The dose should be given on days 1, 8 and 15 of each 28 day cycle. This four week cycle is then repeated. Dosage reduction with each cycle or dose omission within a cycle may be applied based upon the amount of toxicity experienced by the patient.
Combination use. Adults. The recommended dose for gemcitabine is 1,000 mg/m2, given by 30 minute intravenous infusion. The dose should be given on days 1, 8 and 15 of each 28 day cycle in combination with cisplatin. Cisplatin is given at a recommended dose of 70 mg/m2 on day 1 following gemcitabine or day 2 of each 28 day cycle. This four week cycle is then repeated. Dosage reduction with each cycle or dose omission within a cycle may be applied based upon the amount of toxicity experienced by the patient. A clinical trial showed more myelosuppression when cisplatin was used in doses of 100 mg/m2.
Breast cancer. Adults. 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 amount of toxicity experienced by the patient.
Ovarian cancer. Adults. Gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin is recommended using gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 administered on days 1 and 8 of each 21 day cycle as a 30 minute intravenous infusion. After gemcitabine, carboplatin should be given on day 1 consistent with target AUC of 4.0 mg/mL/min. Dosage reduction with each cycle or within a cycle may be applied based upon the amount of toxicity experienced by the patient.
Dose reduction. Haematological toxicity. Patients receiving gemcitabine should be monitored prior to each dose for platelet, leucocyte and granulocyte counts and, if there is evidence of toxicity, the dose of gemcitabine should be reduced or withheld.
Patients receiving gemcitabine should have an absolute granulocyte count of at least 1.5 (x 109/L) and a platelet count of ≥ 100 (x 109/L) prior to initiation of a cycle. Dose modifications of gemcitabine on day 8 and/or day 15 for haematological toxicity should be performed according to the guidelines below (see Tables 5 to 7).
Gemcitabine monotherapy or in combination with cisplatin.
https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fulltablegif/GEMKAB05.gif Gemcitabine in combination with paclitaxel.
https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fulltablegif/GEMKAB06.gif Gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin.
https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fulltablegif/GEMKAB07.gif Other toxicity. Periodic physical examination and checks of liver and kidney function should be made to detect nonhaematological toxicity. Dosage reduction with each cycle or dose omission within a cycle may be applied based upon the amount of toxicity experienced by the patient. Doses should be withheld until toxicity has resolved in the opinion of the physician.
Gemcitabine is well tolerated during the infusion, with only a few cases of injection site reaction reported. There have been no reports of injection site necrosis. Gemcitabine can be easily administered on an outpatient basis.
Elderly patients. Gemcitabine has been well tolerated in patients over the age of 65. There is no evidence to suggest that dose adjustments are necessary in the elderly, although gemcitabine clearance and half life are affected by age.
Hepatic and renal impairment. Gemcitabine should be used with caution in patients with hepatic insufficiency or with impaired renal function as there is insufficient information from clinical studies to allow clear dose recommendation for this patient population. Dose reduction is recommended in patients with elevated serum bilirubin concentration because such patients are at increased risk of toxicity. In a study of cancer patients with elevated serum bilirubin concentrations (median 50 micromol/L, range 30 to 100 micromol/L) who were administered gemcitabine monotherapy, 8 out of 10 patients experienced toxicity at a gemcitabine dose of 950 mg/m2 compared with 3 out of 8 at 800 mg/m2. The toxicity was mostly related to the liver.
In the same study, patients with elevated serum creatinine concentration appeared to experience increased sensitivity to gemcitabine. However, the data based on 15 patients was not sufficient to make dosing recommendations.
All combination studies involving gemcitabine and cisplatin have been performed in patients with creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min. There are no safety or pharmacokinetic data available for this combination in patients with creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min.
Children. Gemcitabine has been studied in limited phase 1 and 2 trials in children in a variety of tumour types. These studies did not provide sufficient data to establish the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine in children.
Preparation and administration. Unopened vials should be stored as per storage conditions for the particular strength (see Storage).
Procedures for proper handling and disposal of anticancer medicines should be considered.
Product is for single use in one patient only. Discard any remaining residue according to the guidelines for the disposal of cytotoxic medicines.
Gemcitabine Kabi powder for injection. Instructions for reconstitution (and further dilution, if performed). The only approved diluent for reconstitution of gemcitabine sterile powder is sodium chloride 0.9% (9 mg/mL) solution for injection (without preservative). No incompatabilities have been identified, however, it is not recommended to mix gemcitabine with other drugs when reconstituted. Due to solubility considerations, the maximum concentration for gemcitabine upon reconstitution is 40 mg/mL. Reconstitution at concentrations greater than 40 mg/mL may result in incomplete dissolution and should be avoided.
Use aseptic technique during the reconstitution and any further dilution of gemcitabine for intravenous infusion administration.
To reconstitute, add 5 mL of sterile sodium chloride 0.9% (9 mg/mL) solution for injection, without preservative, to the 200 mg vial, 25 mL sterile sodium chloride 0.9% solution for injection to the 1 g vial, or 50 mL sterile sodium chloride 0.9 % solution for injection to the 2 g vial. Shake to dissolve. The total volume after reconstitution will be 5.26 mL (200 mg vial), 26.3 mL (1000 mg vial) or 52.6 mL (2000 mg vial) respectively. These dilutions each yield a gemcitabine concentration of 38 mg/mL, which includes accounting for the displacement volume of the lyophilised powder. Further dilution with sterile sodium chloride 0.9 % solution for injection, without preservative can be done. The reconstituted solution is a clear colourless to light straw coloured solution.
Unopened vials should be stored at room temperature. Solutions of reconstituted gemcitabine should be stored below (25°C) and in order to reduce possible microbial contamination hazards should be administered within 6 hours. Discard unused portion. Solutions of reconstituted gemcitabine should not be refrigerated, as crystallisation may occur.
Parenteral medicinal products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discolouration prior to administration. If particulate matter is observed, do not administer.
Procedure for proper handling and disposal of anticancer drugs should be considered, with any unused product or waste material disposed of in accordance with requirements.
Chemical and physical in use stability has been demonstrated for 90 days at 25°C. To reduce microbiological hazard, the product should be used as soon as practicable after reconstitution and as soon as practicable after further dilution. If not used immediately, the reconstituted and further diluted solution should be stored for a total time of not more than 6 hours at 25ºC.
Solutions of reconstituted gemcitabine should not be refrigerated, as crystallisation may occur.
Gemcitabine Kabi 38 mg/mL concentrated injection. Parenteral medicines should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discolouration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. Solutions showing evidence of particulate matter and/or discolouration should not be used.
It is recommended to dilute Gemcitabine Kabi prior to intravenous infusion. It should be diluted in 5% glucose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection. See Table 8.
https://stagingapi.mims.com/au/public/v2/images/fulltablegif/GEMKAB08.gif Although these solutions for infusion are physically and chemically stable for up to 28 days at 2 to 8°C as well as at room temperature (15°C to 25°C) it is recommended that the solution for infusion should be administered immediately after preparation as it does not contain an antimicrobial agent. To reduce microbiological hazard, use the solution for infusion as soon as practicable after preparation. If storage is necessary, hold at 2 to 8ºC for not more than 24 hours. Any remaining residue must be discarded according to the guidelines for the disposal of cytotoxic medicines.

Overdosage

For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 131 126 (Australia).
There is no antidote for overdosage of gemcitabine. Single doses as high as 5.7 g/m2 have been administered by IV infusion over 30 minutes every two weeks with clinically acceptable toxicity. In the event of suspected overdose, the patient should be monitored with appropriate blood counts and should receive supportive therapy, as necessary.

Presentation

Powder for injection. Powder for injection (sterile, white to off white lyophilised powder), 200 mg (AUST R 162336), 1000 mg (AUST R 162337), 2000 mg (AUST R 162338): 1's (colourless glass vial with rubber stopper).
Concentrated injection. Concentrate for injection (sterile, gemcitabine hydrochloride ≡ gemcitabine 38 mg/mL), 200 mg/5.26 mL (AUST R 214724), 1000 mg/26.3 mL (AUST R 220681), 2000 mg/52.6 mL (AUST R 220682): 1's (colourless glass vial with rubber stopper).

Storage

Powder for injection. Store the vials below 25°C. Product is for single use in one patient only. Discard unused portion.
Concentrated injection. Store the vials at 2°C to 8°C. Do not freeze.Product is for single use in one patient only. Discard unused portion.
The expiry date (month/ year) is stated on the package after the word Exp.

Poison schedule

S4.