Gemcitabine

Gemcitabine
Adult Indications & Dosage
Pediatric Indications & Dosage
Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
Use in Specific Populations
Administration & Monitoring
Overdosage
Pharmacology
Clinical Studies
How Supplied
Images
Patient Counseling Information
Precautions with Alcohol
Brand Names
Look-Alike Names

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vignesh Ponnusamy, M.B.B.S. [2]

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Overview

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor that is FDA approved for the {{{indicationType}}} of advanced ovarian cancer, metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy, non-small cell lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Common adverse reactions include nausea/vomiting, anemia, hepatic transaminitis, neutropenia, increased alkaline phosphatase, proteinuria, fever, hematuria, rash, thrombocytopenia, dyspnea, and peripheral edema.

Adult Indications and Dosage

FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)

Ovarian Cancer

• Recommended Dose and Schedule

• The recommended dose of Gemzar is 1000 mg/m2 as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes on Days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle, in combination with carboplatin AUC 4 intravenously after Gemzar administration on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Refer to carboplatin prescribing information for additional information.

• Dose Modifications

• Recommended Gemzar dose modifications for myelosuppression are described in TABLE 1 and TABLE 2 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Refer to Dosage and Administration (2.5) for recommendations for non-hematologic adverse reactions.

T1

T2

Breast Cancer

• Recommended Dose and Schedule

• The recommended dose of Gemzar is 1250 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 minutes on Days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle that includes paclitaxel. Paclitaxel should be administered at 175 mg/m2 on Day 1 as a 3 hour intravenous infusion before Gemzar administration.

• Dose Modifications

• Recommended dose modifications for Gemzar for myelosuppression are described in TABLE 3 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Refer to Dosage and Administration (2.5) for recommendations for non-hematologic adverse reactions.

T3

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Recommended Dose and Schedule

• Every 4-week schedule

• The recommended dose of Gemzar is 1000 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 minutes on Days 1, 8, and 15 in combination with cisplatin therapy. Administer cisplatin intravenously at 100 mg/m2 on Day 1 after the infusion of Gemzar.

• Every 3-week schedule

• The recommended dose of Gemzar is 1250 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 minutes on Days 1 and 8 in combination with cisplatin therapy. Administer cisplatin intravenously at 100 mg/m2 on Day 1 after the infusion of Gemzar.

• Dose Modifications

• Recommended dose modifications for Gemzar myelosuppression are described in TABLE 4 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Refer to Dosage and Administration (2.5) for Gemzar recommendations for non-hematologic adverse reactions.

Pancreatic Cancer

• Recommended Dose and Schedule

• The recommended dose of Gemzar is 1000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes intravenously. The recommended treatment schedule is as follows:

• Weeks 1-8: weekly dosing for the first 7 weeks followed by one week rest.
• After week 8: weekly dosing on Days 1, 8, and 15 of 28-day cycles.

• Dose Modifications

• Recommended dose modifications for Gemzar for myelosuppression are described in TABLE 4 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Refer to Dosage and Administration (2.5) for recommendations for non-hematologic adverse reactions.
• Patients receiving Gemzar should be monitored prior to each dose with a complete blood count (CBC), including differential and platelet count. If marrow suppression is detected, therapy should be modified or suspended according to the guidelines in TABLE 4.

T4

Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)

Guideline-Supported Use

Condition1

• Developed by:

• Class of Recommendation:

• Strength of Evidence:

• Dosing Information

• Dosage

Condition2

There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Gemcitabine in adult patients.

Non–Guideline-Supported Use

Condition1

• Dosing Information

• Dosage

Condition2

There is limited information regarding Off-Label Non–Guideline-Supported Use of Gemcitabine in adult patients.

Pediatric Indications and Dosage

FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)

Condition1

• Dosing Information

• Dosage

Condition2

There is limited information regarding FDA-Labeled Use of Gemcitabine in pediatric patients.

Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)

Guideline-Supported Use

Condition1

• Developed by:

• Class of Recommendation:

• Strength of Evidence:

• Dosing Information

• Dosage

Condition2

There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Gemcitabine in pediatric patients.

Non–Guideline-Supported Use

Condition1

• Dosing Information

• Dosage

Condition2

There is limited information regarding Off-Label Non–Guideline-Supported Use of Gemcitabine in pediatric patients.

Contraindications

• Gemzar is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to gemcitabine.

Warnings

Precautions

• Schedule-dependent Toxicity

• In clinical trials evaluating the maximum tolerated dose of Gemzar, prolongation of the infusion time beyond 60 minutes or more frequent than weekly dosing resulted in an increased incidence of clinically significant hypotension, severe flu-like symptoms, myelosuppression, and asthenia. The half-life of Gemzar is influenced by the length of the infusion [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

• Myelosuppression

• Myelosuppression manifested by neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia occurs with Gemzar as a single agent and the risks are increased when Gemzar is combined with other cytotoxic drugs. In clinical trials, Grade 3-4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia occurred in 25%, 8%, and 5%, respectively of patients receiving single-agent Gemzar. The frequencies of Grade 3-4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia varied from 48% to 71%, 8 to 28%, and 5 to 55%, respectively, in patients receiving Gemzar in combination with another drug.

• Pulmonary Toxicity and Respiratory Failure

• Pulmonary toxicity, including interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary edema, and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), has been reported. In some cases, these pulmonary events can lead to fatal respiratory failure despite discontinuation of therapy. The onset of pulmonary symptoms may occur up to 2 weeks after the last dose of Gemzar. Discontinue Gemzar in patients who develop unexplained dyspnea, with or without bronchospasm, or have any evidence of pulmonary toxicity [see Adverse Reactions (6.1 and 6.2)].

• Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

• Hemolytic uremic syndrome, including fatalities from renal failure or the requirement for dialysis, can occur in patients treated with Gemzar. In clinical trials, HUS was reported in 6 of 2429 patients (0.25%). Most fatal cases of renal failure were due to HUS [see Adverse Reactions (6.1 and 6.2)]. Assess renal function prior to initiation of Gemzar and periodically during treatment. Consider the diagnosis of HUS in patients who develops anemia with evidence of microangiopathic hemolysis, elevation of bilirubin or LDH, or reticulocytosis; severe thrombocytopenia; or evidence of renal failure (elevation of serum creatinine or BUN) [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) and Use in Specific Populations (8.6)]. Permanently discontinue Gemzar in patients with HUS or severe renal impairment. Renal failure may not be reversible even with discontinuation of therapy.

• Hepatic Toxicity

• Drug-induced liver injury, including liver failure and death, has been reported in patients receiving Gemzar alone or in combination with other potentially hepatotoxic drugs [see Adverse Reactions (6.1 and 6.2)]. Administration of Gemzar in patients with concurrent liver metastases or a pre-existing medical history or hepatitis, alcoholism, or liver cirrhosis can lead to exacerbation of the underlying hepatic insufficiency [see Use in Specific Populations (8.7)]. Assess hepatic function prior to initiation of Gemzar and periodically during treatment. Discontinue Gemzar in patients that develop severe liver injury.

• Embryofetal Toxicity

• Gemzar can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman, based on its mechanism of action. Gemcitabine was teratogenic, embryotoxic, and fetotoxic in mice and rabbits. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if a woman becomes pregnant while taking Gemzar, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

• Exacerbation of Radiation Therapy Toxicity

• Gemzar is not indicated for use in combination with radiation therapy.
• Concurrent (given together or ≤7 days apart) — Life-threatening mucositis, especially esophagitis and pneumonitis occurred in a trial in which Gemzar was administered at a dose of 1000 mg/m2 to patients with non-small cell lung cancer for up to 6 consecutive weeks concurrently with thoracic radiation.
• Non-concurrent (given >7 days apart) — Excessive toxicity has not been observed when Gemzar is administered more than 7 days before or after radiation. Radiation recall has been reported in patients who receive Gemzar after prior radiation.

• Capillary Leak Syndrome

• Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) with severe consequences has been reported in patients receiving Gemzar as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. Discontinue Gemzar if CLS develops during therapy.

• Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

• Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has been reported in patients receiving Gemzar as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. PRES can present with headache, seizure, lethargy, hypertension, confusion, blindness, and other visual and neurologic disturbances. Confirm the diagnosis of PRES with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and discontinue Gemzar if PRES develops during therapy.

Adverse Reactions

Clinical Trials Experience

• Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

• Single-Agent Use:

• The data described below reflect exposure to Gemzar as a single agent administered at doses between 800 mg/m2 to 1250 mg/m2 over 30 minutes intravenously, once weekly, in 979 patients with a variety of malignancies. The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions of single-agent Gemzar are nausea/vomiting, anemia, increased ALT, increased AST, neutropenia, increased alkaline phosphatase, proteinuria, fever, hematuria, rash, thrombocytopenia, dyspnea, and edema. The most common (≥5%) Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions were neutropenia, nausea/vomiting; increased ALT, increase alkaline phosphatase, anemia, increased AST, and thrombocytopenia. Approximately 10% of the 979 patients discontinued Gemzar due to adverse reactions. Adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of Gemzar in 2% of 979 patients were cardiovascular adverse events (myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, arrhythmia, and hypertension) and adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of Gemzar in less than 1% of the 979 patients were anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatic dysfunction, renal dysfunction, nausea/vomiting, fever, rash, dyspnea, hemorrhage, infection, stomatitis, somnolence, flu-like syndrome, and edema.
• TABLE 5 presents the incidence of adverse reactions reported in 979 patients with various malignancies receiving single-agent Gemzar across 5 clinical trials. TABLE 5 includes all clinical adverse reactions, reported in at least 10% of patients. A listing of clinically significant adverse reactions is provided following the table.

T5

• Transfusion requirements — Red blood cell transfusions (19%); platelet transfusions (<1%)

• Fever — Fever occurred in the absence of clinical infection and frequently in combination with other flu-like symptoms.

• Pulmonary — Dyspnea unrelated to underlying disease and sometimes accompanied by bronchospasm.

• Edema — Edema (13%), peripheral edema (20%), and generalized edema (<1%); <1% of patients. discontinued Gemzar due to edema.

• Flu-like Symptoms — Characterized by fever, asthenia, anorexia, headache, cough, chills, myalgia, asthenia insomnia, rhinitis, sweating, and/or malaise (19%); <1% of patients discontinued Gemzar due to flu-like symptoms

• Infection — Sepsis (<1%)

• Extravasation — Injection-site reactions (4%)

• Allergic — Bronchospasm (<2%); anaphylactoid reactions [see Contraindications (4)].

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• TABLE 6 presents the incidence of selected adverse reactions, occurring in ≥10% of Gemzar-treated patients and at a higher incidence in the Gemzar plus cisplatin arm, reported in a randomized trial of Gemzar plus cisplatin (n=262) administered in 28-day cycles as compared to cisplatin alone (n=260) in patients receiving first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [see Clinical Studies (14.3)].

Patients randomized to Gemzar plus cisplatin received a median of 4 cycles of treatment and those randomized to cisplatin received a median of 2 cycles of treatment. In this trial, the requirement for dose adjustments (>90% versus 16%), discontinuation of treatment for adverse reactions (15% versus 8%), and the proportion of patients hospitalized (36% versus 23%) were all higher for patients receiving Gemzar plus cisplatin arm compared to those receiving cisplatin alone. The incidence of febrile neutropenia (9/262 versus 2/260), sepsis (4% versus 1%), Grade 3 cardiac dysrhythmias (3% versus <1%) were all higher in the Gemzar plus cisplatin arm compared to the cisplatin alone arm. The two-drug combination was more myelosuppressive with 4 (1.5%) possibly treatment-related deaths, including 3 resulting from myelosuppression with infection and one case of renal failure associated with pancytopenia and infection. No deaths due to treatment were reported on the cisplatin arm.

T6

• TABLE 7 presents the incidence of selected adverse reactions, occurring in ≥10% of Gemzar-treated patients and at a higher incidence in the Gemzar plus cisplatin arm, reported in a randomized trial of Gemzar plus cisplatin (n=69) administered in 21-day cycles as compared to etoposide plus cisplatin alone (n=66) in patients receiving first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [see Clinical Studies (14.3)]. A listing of clinically significant adverse reactions is provided following the table.

• Patients in the Gemzar cisplatin (GC) arm received a median of 5 cycles and those in the etoposide/cisplatin (EC) arm received a median of 4 cycles. The majority of patients receiving more than one cycle of treatment required dose adjustments; 81% in the (GC) arm and 68% in the (EC) arm. The incidence of hospitalizations for treatment-related adverse events was 22% (GC) and 27% in the (EC) arm. The proportion of discontinuation of treatment for treatment-related adverse reactions was higher for patients in the (GC) arm (14% versus 8%). The proportion of patients hospitalized for febrile neutropenia was lower in the (GC) arm (7% versus 12%). There was one death attributed to treatment, a patient with febrile neutropenia and renal failure, which occurred in the Gemzar/cisplatin arm.

T7

Breast Cancer

• TABLE 8 presents the incidence of selected adverse reactions, occurring in ≥10% of Gemzar-treated patients and at a higher incidence in the Gemzar plus paclitaxel arm, reported in a randomized trial of Gemzar plus paclitaxel (n=262) compared to paclitaxel alone (n=259) for the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in women who received anthracycline-containing chemotherapy in the adjuvant/neo-adjuvant setting or for whom anthracyclines were contraindicated [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].

• The requirement for dose reduction of paclitaxel were higher for patients in the Gemzar/paclitaxel arm (5% versus 2%). The number of paclitaxel doses omitted (<1%), the proportion of patients discontinuing treatment for treatment-related adverse reactions (7% versus 5%), and the number of treatment-related deaths (1 patient in each arm) were similar between the two arms.

T8

• Clinically relevant Grade 3 or 4 dyspnea occurred with a higher incidence in the Gemzar plus paclitaxel arm compared with the paclitaxel arm (1.9% versus 0).

Ovarian Cancer

• TABLE 9 presents the incidence of selected adverse reactions, occurring in ≥10% of gemcitabine-treated patients and at a higher incidence in the Gemzar plus carboplatin arm, reported in a randomized trial of Gemzar plus carboplatin (n=175) compared to carboplatin alone (n=174) for the second-line treatment of ovarian cancer in women with disease that had relapsed more than 6 months following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. Additional clinically significant adverse reactions, occurring in less than 10% of patients, are provided following TABLE 9.

• The proportion of patients with dose adjustments for carboplatin (1.8% versus 3.8%), doses of carboplatin omitted (0.2% versus 0), and discontinuing treatment for treatment-related adverse reactions (10.9% versus 9.8%), were similar between arms. Dose adjustment for Gemzar occurred in 10.4% of patients and Gemzar dose was omitted in 13.7% of patients in the Gemzar /carboplatin arm.

T9

• Hematopoietic growth factors were administered more frequently in the Gemzar-containing arm: granulocyte growth factors (23.6% and 10.1%) and erythropoietic agents (7.3% and 3.9%).

• The following clinically relevant, Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions occurred more frequently in the Gemzar plus carboplatin arm: dyspnea (3.4% versus 2.9%), febrile neutropenia (1.1% versus 0), hemorrhagic event (2.3% versus 1.1 %), motor neuropathy (1.1% versus 0.6%), and rash/desquamation (0.6% versus 0).

Postmarketing Experience

• The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of Gemzar. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Cardiovascular

Congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, supraventricular arrhythmias

Vascular Disorders

Peripheral vasculitis, gangrene, and capillary leak syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]

Skin

Cellulitis, severe skin reactions, including desquamation and bullous skin eruptions

Hepatic

Hepatic failure, hepatic veno-occlusive disease

Pulmonary

Interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary edema, and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Nervous System

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)

Drug Interactions

• No drug interaction studies have been conducted.

Use in Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category (FDA):

• Pregnancy Category D

• Risk Summary

• Gemzar can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Based on its mechanism of action, Gemzar is expected to result in adverse reproductive effects. Gemcitabine was teratogenic, embryotoxic, and fetotoxic in mice and rabbits. If Gemzar is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking Gemzar, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus.

• Animal Data

• Gemcitabine is embryotoxic causing fetal malformations (cleft palate, incomplete ossification) at doses of 1.5 mg/kg/day in mice (approximately 0.005 times the recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis). Gemcitabine is fetotoxic causing fetal malformations (fused pulmonary artery, absence of gall bladder) at doses of 0.1 mg/kg/day in rabbits (about 0.002 times the recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis). Embryotoxicity was characterized by decreased fetal viability, reduced live litter sizes, and developmental delays.

Pregnancy Category (AUS):

• Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) Pregnancy Category

There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of Gemcitabine in women who are pregnant.

Labor and Delivery

There is no FDA guidance on use of Gemcitabine during labor and delivery.

Nursing Mothers

• It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from Gemzar, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Pediatric Use

• The safety and effectiveness of Gemzar have not been established in pediatric patients. The safety and pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine were evaluated in a trial in pediatric patients with refractory leukemia. The maximum tolerated dose was 10 mg/m2/min for 360 minutes three times weekly followed by a one-week rest period. The safety and activity of Gemzar were evaluated in a trial of pediatric patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (22 patients) and acute myelogenous leukemia (10 patients) at a dose of 10 mg/m2/min administered over 360 minutes three times weekly followed by a one-week rest period. Toxicities observed included bone marrow suppression, febrile neutropenia, elevation of serum transaminases, nausea, and rash/desquamation. No meaningful clinical activity was observed in this trial.

Geriatic Use

• In clinical studies of GEMZAR, enrolling 979 patients with various cancers who received GEMZAR as a single agent, no overall differences in safety were observed between patients aged 65 and older and younger patients, with the exception of a higher rate of Grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia in older patients as compared to younger patients. In a randomized trial in women with ovarian cancer, 175 women received GEMZAR plus carboplatin, of which 29% were age 65 years or older. Similar effectiveness was observed between older and younger women. There was significantly higher Grade 3/4 neutropenia in women 65 years of age or older.

• GEMZAR clearance is affected by age, however there are no recommended dose adjustments based on patients' age.

Gender

• Gemzar clearance is affected by gender. In single-agent studies of Gemzar, women, especially older women, were more likely not to proceed to a subsequent cycle and to experience Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.

Race

There is no FDA guidance on the use of Gemcitabine with respect to specific racial populations.

Renal Impairment

There is no FDA guidance on the use of Gemcitabine in patients with renal impairment.

Hepatic Impairment

There is no FDA guidance on the use of Gemcitabine in patients with hepatic impairment.

Females of Reproductive Potential and Males

There is no FDA guidance on the use of Gemcitabine in women of reproductive potentials and males.

Immunocompromised Patients

There is no FDA guidance one the use of Gemcitabine in patients who are immunocompromised.

Administration and Monitoring

Administration

• Intravenous

Monitoring

There is limited information regarding Monitoring of Gemcitabine in the drug label.

IV Compatibility

• Reconstitute the vials with 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection without preservatives.

• Add 5 mL to the 200-mg vial or 25 mL to the 1-g vial. These dilutions each yield a Gemzar concentration of 38 mg/mL. Complete withdrawal of the vial contents will provide 200 mg or 1 g of Gemzar. Prior to administration the appropriate amount of drug must be diluted with 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection. Final concentrations may be as low as 0.1 mg/mL.

• Reconstituted Gemzar is a clear, colorless to light straw-colored solution. Inspect visually prior to administration and discard for particulate matter or discoloration. Gemzar solutions are stable for 24 hours at controlled room temperature of 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). Do not refrigerate as crystallization can occur.

• No incompatibilities have been observed with infusion bottles or polyvinyl chloride bags and administration sets.

Overdosage

• Myelosuppression, paresthesias, and severe rash were the principal toxicities seen when a single dose as high as 5700 mg/m2 was administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every 2 weeks to several patients in a dose-escalation study.

Pharmacology

Gemcitabine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
4-amino-1-(2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrimidin-2(1H)-on
Identifiers
CAS number	95058-81-4
ATC code	L01BC05
PubChem	60750
DrugBank	DB00441
Chemical data
Formula	Template:OrganicBox atomTemplate:OrganicBox atomTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBox atomTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBox atomTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBox atomTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBoxTemplate:OrganicBox
Mol. mass	263.198 g/mol
SMILES	eMolecules & PubChem
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Protein binding	<10%
Metabolism	?
Half life	Short infusions 32-94 minutes for long infusions 245-638 minutes
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	D(AU) D(US)
Legal status	Pharmacy Only (S2)(AU) POM(UK) [[Prescription drug|Template:Unicode-only]](US)
Routes	Oral, intravenous

Mechanism of Action

• Gemcitabine kills cells undergoing DNA synthesis and blocks the progression of cells through the G1/S-phase boundary. Gemcitabine is metabolized by nucleoside kinases to diphosphate (dFdCDP) and triphosphate (dFdCTP) nucleosides. Gemcitabine diphosphate inhibits ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme responsible for catalyzing the reactions that generate deoxynucleoside triphosphates for DNA synthesis, resulting in reductions in deoxynucleotide concentrations, including dCTP. Gemcitabine triphosphate competes with dCTP for incorporation into DNA. The reduction in the intracellular concentration of dCTP by the action of the diphosphate enhances the incorporation of gemcitabine triphosphate into DNA (self-potentiation). After the gemcitabine nucleotide is incorporated into DNA, only one additional nucleotide is added to the growing DNA strands, which eventually results in the initiation of apoptotic cell death.

Structure

• Gemzar (gemcitabine for injection, USP) is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor that exhibits antitumor activity. Gemcitabine HCl is 2′-deoxy-2′,2′-difluorocytidine monohydrochloride (β-isomer).

• The structural formula is as follows:

This image is provided by the National Library of Medicine.

• The empirical formula for gemcitabine HCl is C9H11F2N3O4 • HCl. It has a molecular weight of 299.66.

• Gemcitabine HCl is soluble in water, slightly soluble in methanol, and practically insoluble in ethanol and polar organic solvents.

• Gemzar is supplied in a sterile form for intravenous use only. Vials of Gemzar contain either 200 mg or 1 g of gemcitabine HCl (expressed as free base) formulated with mannitol (200 mg or 1 g, respectively) and sodium acetate (12.5 mg or 62.5 mg, respectively) as a sterile lyophilized powder. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may have been added for pH adjustment.

Pharmacodynamics

There is limited information regarding Pharmacodynamics of Gemcitabine in the drug label.

Pharmacokinetics

• Absorption and Distribution

• The pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine were examined in 353 patients, with various solid tumors. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived using data from patients treated for varying durations of therapy given weekly with periodic rest weeks and using both short infusions (<70 minutes) and long infusions (70 to 285 minutes). The total Gemzar dose varied from 500 to 3600 mg/m2.
• The volume of distribution was increased with infusion length. Volume of distribution of gemcitabine was 50 L/m2 following infusions lasting <70 minutes. For long infusions, the volume of distribution rose to 370 L/m2.
• Gemcitabine pharmacokinetics are linear and are described by a 2-compartment model. Population pharmacokinetic analyses of combined single and multiple dose studies showed that the volume of distribution of gemcitabine was significantly influenced by duration of infusion and gender. Gemcitabine plasma protein binding is negligible.

• Metabolism

• Gemcitabine disposition was studied in 5 patients who received a single 1000 mg/m2/30 minute infusion of radiolabeled drug. Within one (1) week, 92% to 98% of the dose was recovered, almost entirely in the urine. Gemcitabine (<10%) and the inactive uracil metabolite, 2′-deoxy-2′,2′-difluorouridine (dFdU), accounted for 99% of the excreted dose. The metabolite dFdU is also found in plasma.
• The active metabolite, gemcitabine triphosphate, can be extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The half-life of the terminal phase for gemcitabine triphosphate from mononuclear cells ranges from 1.7 to 19.4 hours.

• Elimination

• Clearance of gemcitabine was affected by age and gender. The lower clearance in women and the elderly results in higher concentrations of gemcitabine for any given dose. Differences in either clearance or volume of distribution based on patient characteristics or the duration of infusion result in changes in half-life and plasma concentrations. TABLE 10 shows plasma clearance and half-life of gemcitabine following short infusions for typical patients by age and gender.

T10

• Gemcitabine half-life for short infusions ranged from 42 to 94 minutes, and the value for long infusions varied from 245 to 638 minutes, depending on age and gender, reflecting a greatly increased volume of distribution with longer infusions.

• Drug Interactions

• When Gemzar (1250 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 8) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on Day 1) were administered in NSCLC patients, the clearance of gemcitabine on Day 1 was 128 L/hr/m2 and on Day 8 was 107 L/hr/m2. Analysis of data from metastatic breast cancer patients shows that, on average, Gemzar has little or no effect on the pharmacokinetics (clearance and half-life) of paclitaxel and paclitaxel has little or no effect on the pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine. Data from NSCLC patients demonstrate that Gemzar and carboplatin given in combination does not alter the pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine or carboplatin compared to administration of either single agent. However, due to wide confidence intervals and small sample size, interpatient variability may be observed.

Nonclinical Toxicology

• Long-term animal studies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of Gemzar have not been conducted. Gemcitabine was mutagenic in an in vitro mouse lymphoma (L5178Y) assay and was clastogenic in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay. Gemcitabine IP doses of 0.5 mg/kg/day (about 1/700 the human dose on a mg/m2 basis) in male mice had an effect on fertility with moderate to severe hypospermatogenesis, decreased fertility, and decreased implantations. In female mice, fertility was not affected but maternal toxicities were observed at 1.5 mg/kg/day administered intravenously (about 1/200 the human dose on a mg/m2 basis) and fetotoxicity or embryolethality was observed at 0.25 mg/kg/day administered intravenously (about 1/1300 the human dose on a mg/m2 basis).

Clinical Studies

There is limited information regarding Clinical Studies of Gemcitabine in the drug label.

How Supplied

Storage

There is limited information regarding Gemcitabine Storage in the drug label.

Images

Drug Images

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Package and Label Display Panel

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Patient Counseling Information

There is limited information regarding Patient Counseling Information of Gemcitabine in the drug label.

Precautions with Alcohol

• Alcohol-Gemcitabine interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor about the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.

Brand Names

• ®

Look-Alike Drug Names

• A® — B®

Drug Shortage Status

Price

References

The contents of this FDA label are provided by the National Library of Medicine.

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