Kemocarb

KEMOCARB (Carboplatin) is a platinum coordination compound that is used as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent.
Each ml contains: Carboplatin BP 10 mg, Water for Injection BP q.s..
Chemically Carboplatin is platinum, diammine [1,1-cyclobutane-dicarboxylate (2-)-0-0']-[SP-4-2]. It has a molecular formula of C₆H₁₂N2O₄Pt and molecular weight is 371.25.

Pharmacology: Mechanism of action: Carboplatin, like cisplatin, produces predominantly interstrand DNA cross-links rather than DNA-protein cross-links. This effect is apparently cell-cycle nonspecific. The aquation of carboplatin, which is thought to produce the active species, occurs at a slower rate than in the case of cisplatin. Despite this difference, it appears that both carboplatin and cisplatin induce equal numbers of drug-DNA cross-links, causing equivalent lesions and biological effects. The differences in potencies for Carboplatin and cisplatin appear to be directly related to the difference in aquations rates.
Pharmacodynamics: Clinical Studies: Use with Cyclophosphamide for Initial Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: In two prospectively randomized, controlled studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Clinical Trials Group (NCIC) and the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), 789 chemotherapy naive patients with advanced ovarian cancer were treated with Carboplatin or cisplatin, both in combination with cyclophosphamide every 28 days for six courses before surgical reevaluation. The following results were obtained from both studies: Comparative Efficacy: See Tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

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Use as a Single Agent for Secondary Treatment of Advanced Ovarian Cancer: In two prospective, randomized controlled studies in patients with advanced ovarian cancer previously treated with chemotherapy, Carboplatin achieved six clinical complete responses in 47 patients. The duration of these responses ranged from 45 to 71 + weeks.
Pharmacokinetics: In patients with creatinine clearances of about 60 ml/min or greater, plasma levels of intact carboplatin decay in a biphasic manner after a 30-minute intravenous infusion of 300 to 500 mg/m² of carboplatin. The initial plasma half-life (alpha) was found to be 1.1 to 2 hours (n=6), and the post distribution plasma half-life (beta) was found to be 2.6 to 5.9 hours (n=6). The total body clearance, apparent volume of distribution and mean residence time for carboplatin are 4.4 L/hour, 16 L and 3.5 hours, respectively. The C_max values and areas under the plasma concentration versus time curves from 0 to infinity (AUC inf) increase linearly with dose, although the increase was slightly more than dose proportional. Carboplatin, therefore, exhibits linear pharmacokinetics over the dosing range studied (300 - 500 mg/m²).
Carboplatin is not bound to plasma proteins. No significant quantities of protein free, ultrafilterable platinum-containing species other than carboplatin are present in plasma. However, platinum from carboplatin becomes irreversibly bound to plasma proteins and is slowly eliminated with a minimum half-life of 5 days. The major route of elimination of carboplatin is renal excretion. Patients with creatinine clearances of approximately 60 ml/min or greater excrete 65% of the dose in the urine within 12 hours and 71% of the dose within 24 hours. All of the platinum in the 24-hour urine is present as carboplatin. Only 3 to 5% of the administered platinum is excreted in the urine between 24 and 96 hours. There are insufficient data to determine whether biliary excretion occurs.
In patients with creatinine clearances below 60 ml/min the total body and renal clearances of carboplatin decrease as the creatinine clearance decreases. Carboplatin dosages should therefore be reduced in these patients. The primary determinant of carboplatin clearance is glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and this parameter of renal function is often decreased in elderly patients. Dosing formulas incorporating estimates of GFR to provide predictable carboplatin plasma AUCs should be used in elderly patients to minimize the risk of toxicity.

Initial Treatment of Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma: Carboplatin is indicated for the initial treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma in established combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents.
Secondary Treatment of Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma: Carboplatin is indicated for the palliative treatment of patients with ovarian carcinoma recurrent after prior chemotherapy, including patients who have been previously treated with cisplatin.

Note: Aluminum reacts with carboplatin causing precipitate formation and loss of potency, therefore, needles or intravenous sets containing aluminum parts that may come in contact with the drug must not be used for the preparation or administration of Carboplatin Injection.
Single-Agent Therapy: Carboplatin Injection, as a single agent, has been shown to be effective in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma at a dosage of 360 mg/m² IV on day 1 every 4 weeks (alternatively see Formula Dosing as follows). In general, however, single intermittent courses of Carboplatin should not be repeated until the neutrophil count is at least 2000 and the platelet count is at least 100,000.
Combination Therapy with Cyclophosphamide: In the chemotherapy of advanced ovarian cancer, an effective combination for previously untreated patients consists of: Carboplatin - 300 mg/m² IV on day 1 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles (alternatively see Formula Dosing as follows); Cyclophosphamide - 600 mg/m² IV on day 1 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles. For directions regarding the use and administration of cyclophosphamide, refer to its package insert.
Intermittent courses of Carboplatin in combination with cyclophosphamide should not be repeated until the neutrophil count is at least 2,000 and the platelet count is at least 100,000.
Dose Adjustment Recommendations: Pretreatment platelet count and performance status are important prognostic factors for severity of myelosuppression in previously treated patients.
The suggested dose adjustments for single agent or combination therapy shown in the table as follows are modified from controlled trials in previously treated and untreated patients with ovarian carcinoma. Blood counts were done weekly, and the recommendations are based on the lowest post-treatment platelet or neutrophil value. (See Table 6.)

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Carboplatin Injection is usually administered by an infusion lasting 15 minutes or longer. No pre or post-treatment hydration or forced diuresis is required.
Patients with Impaired Kidney Function: Patients with creatinine clearance values below 60 ml/min are at increased risk of severe bone marrow suppression. In renally-impaired patients who received single-agent Carboplatin therapy, the incidence of severe leukopenia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia has been about 25% when the dosage modifications in the table as follows have been used. (See Table 7.)

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The data available for patients with severely impaired kidney function (creatinine clearance below 15 ml/min) are too limited to permit a recommendation for treatment. These dosing recommendations apply to the initial course of treatment. Subsequent dosages should be adjusted according to the patient's tolerance based on the degree of bone marrow suppression.
Formula Dosing: Another approach for determining the initial dose of carboplatin is the use of mathematical formulae, which are based on a patient's pre-existing renal function or renal function and desired platelet nadir. Renal excretion is the major route of elimination for carboplatin. The use of dosing formulae, as compared to empirical dose calculation based on body surface area, allows compensation for patient variations in pretreatment renal function that might otherwise result in either underdosing (in patients with above average renal function) or overdosing (in patients with impaired renal function).
A simple formula for calculating dosage, based upon a patient's glomerular filtration rate (GFR in ml/min) and carboplatin target area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC in mg/ml·min), has been proposed by Calvert. In these studies, GFR was measured by ⁵¹Cr-EDTA clearance.
CALVERT FORMULA FOR CARBOPLATIN DOSING: Total dose (mg) = target (AUC) x (GFR + 25).
Note: With the Calvert formula, the total dose of carboplatin is calculated in mg, not mg/m².
The target AUC of 4 to 6 mg/ml·min using single agent carboplatin appears to provide the most appropriate dose range in previously treated patients. This study also showed a trend between the AUC of single-agent carboplatin administered to previously treated patients and the likelihood of developing toxicity. (See Table 8.)

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Geriatric Dosing: Because renal function is often decreased in elderly patients, formula dosing of Carboplatin injection based on estimates of GFR should be used in elderly patients to provide predictable plasma Carboplatin AUCs and thereby minimize the risk of toxicity.
Preparation of Intravenous Solution: KEMOCARB is a premixed aqueous solution of 10 mg/ml Carboplatin. KEMOCARB can be further diluted to concentrations between 0.5 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml with water for injection, or between 0.5 mg/ml and 7 mg/ml with 5% Dextrose or 0.9% Sodium Chloride. Chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated below 25°C for 24 hours and at 2-8°C for 48 hours. However, from a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately.

There is no known antidote for Carboplatin Injection overdosage. The anticipated complications of overdosage would be secondary to bone marrow suppression and/or hepatic toxicity.

Carboplatin is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe allergic reactions to cisplatin or other platinum-containing compounds.
Carboplatin should not be employed in patients with severe bone marrow depression or significant bleeding.

Carboplatin Injection should be administered under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Appropriate management of therapy and complications is possible only when adequate treatment facilities are readily available.
Bone marrow suppression is dose related and may be severe, resulting in infection and/or bleeding. Anemia may be cumulative and may require transfusion support. Vomiting is another frequent drug-related side effect.
Anaphylactic-like reactions to Carboplatin have been reported and may occur within minutes of Carboplatin Injection administration. Epinephrine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines have been employed to alleviate symptoms.

Bone marrow suppression (leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia) is dose-dependent and is also the dose-limiting toxicity. Peripheral blood counts should be frequently monitored during carboplatin treatment and, when appropriate, until recovery is achieved. Median nadir occurs at day 21 in patients receiving single agent carboplatin. In general, single intermittent courses of carboplatin should not be repeated until leukocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts have recovered. Since anemia is cumulative, transfusions may be needed during treatment with carboplatin, particularly in patients receiving prolonged therapy.
Bone marrow suppression is increased in patients who have received prior therapy, especially regimens including cisplatin. Marrow suppression is also increased in patients with impaired kidney function. Initial carboplatin dosages in these patients should be appropriately reduced and blood counts should be carefully monitored between courses. The use of carboplatin in combination with other bone marrow suppressing therapies must be carefully managed with respect to dosage and timing in order to minimize additive effects.
Carboplatin has limited nephrotoxic potential, but concomitant treatment with aminoglycosides has resulted in increased renal and/or audiologic toxicity and caution must be exercised when a patient receives both drugs. Clinically significant hearing loss has been reported to occur in pediatric patients when carboplatin was administered at higher than recommended doses in combination with other ototoxic agents.
Carboplatin can induce emesis, which can be more severe in patients previously receiving emetogenic therapy. The incidence and intensity of emesis have been reduced by using premedication with antiemetics. Although no conclusive efficacy data exist with the following schedules of carboplatin, lengthening the duration of single intravenous administration to 24 hours or dividing the total dose over 5 consecutive daily pulse doses has resulted in reduced emesis.
Although peripheral neurotoxicity is infrequent, its incidence is increased in patients older than 65 years and in patients previously treated with cisplatin. Pre-existing cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity does not worsen in about 70% of the patients receiving carboplatin as secondary treatment.
Loss of vision, which can be complete for light and colors, has been reported after the use of Carboplatin with doses higher than those recommended in the package insert. Vision appears to recover totally or to a significant extent within weeks of stopping these high doses.
As in the case of other platinum-coordination compounds, allergic reactions to carboplatin have been reported. These may occur within minutes of administration and should be managed with appropriate supportive therapy. There is increased risk of allergic reactions including anaphylaxis in patients previously exposed to platinum therapy.
High dosages of carboplatin (more than 4 times the recommended dose) have resulted in severe abnormalities of liver function tests.
General: Needles or intravenous administration sets containing aluminum parts that may come in contact with carboplatin injection should not be used for the preparation or administration of the drug. Aluminum can react with carboplatin causing precipitate formation and loss of potency.
Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity and Impairment of Fertility: The carcinogenic potential of carboplatin has not been studied, but compounds with similar mechanisms of action and mutagenicity profiles have been reported to be carcinogenic. Carboplatin has been shown to be mutagenic both in vitro and in vivo. It has also been shown to be embryotoxic and teratogenic in rats receiving the drug during organogenesis. Secondary malignancies have been reported in association with multi-drug therapy.
Use in Pregnancy & Lactation: See USE IN PREGNANCY & LACTATION section for further information.
Use in Children: Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
Use in the Elderly: Of the 789 patients in initial treatment combination therapy studies (NCIC and SWOG), 395 patients were treated with carboplatin in combination with cyclophosphamide. Of these, 141 were over 65 years of age and 22 were 75 years or older. In these trials, age was not a prognostic factor for survival. In terms of safety, elderly patients treated with carboplatin were more likely to develop severe thrombocytopenia than younger patients. In a combined database of 1942 patients (414 were ≥65 years of age) that received single-agent carboplatin for different tumor types, a similar incidence of adverse events was seen in patients 65 years and older and in patients less than 65.
Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out. Because renal function is often decreased in the elderly, renal function should be considered in the selection of carboplatin dosage.

Pregnancy: Carboplatin may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Carboplatin has been shown to be embryotoxic and teratogenic in rats. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.
Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether carboplatin is excreted in human milk. Because there is a possibility of toxicity in nursing infants secondary to carboplatin treatment of the mother, it is recommended that breast feeding be discontinued if the mother is treated with carboplatin.

For a comparison of toxicities when carboplatin or cisplatin was given in combination with cyclophosphamide. (See Table 9.)

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In the narrative section that follows, the incidences of adverse events are based on data from 1893 patients with various types of tumors who received carboplatin as single agent therapy.
Hematologic toxicity: Bone marrow suppression is the dose limiting toxicity of carboplatin. Thrombocytopenia with platelet counts below 50,000/mm³ occurs in 25% of the patients; neutropenia with granulocyte counts below 1,000/mm³ occurs in 16% of the patients, leukopenia with WBC counts below 2,000/mm³ occurs in 15% of the patients. The nadir usually occurs about day 21 in patients receiving single agent therapy. By day 28, 90% of patients have platelet counts above 100,00/mm³, 74% have neutrophil counts above 2,000/mm³; 67% have leukocyte counts above 4,000/mm³.
Marrow suppression is usually more severe in patients with impaired kidney function. Patients with poor performance status have also experienced a higher incidence of severe leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.
The hematologic effects, although usually reversible, have resulted in infectious or hemorrhagic complications in 5% of the patients treated with carboplatin, with drug-related death occurring in less than 1% of the patients. Fever has also been reported in patients with neutropenia. Anemia with hemoglobin less than 11 g/dL has been observed in 71% of the patients who started therapy with a baseline above that value. The incidence of anemia increases with increasing exposure to carboplatin. Transfusions have been administered to 26% of the patients treated with carboplatin (44% of previously treated ovarian cancer patients). Bone marrow depression may be more severe when Carboplatin is combined with other bone marrow suppressing drugs or with radiotherapy.
Gastrointestinal toxicity: Vomiting occurs in 65% of the patients (81% of previously treated ovarian cancer patients) and in about one-third of these patients it is severe. Carboplatin, as a single agent or in combination, is significantly less emetogenic than cisplatin; however, patients previously treated with emetogenic agents, especially cisplatin, appear to be more prone to vomiting. Nausea alone occurs in an additional 10% to 15% of patients. Both nausea and vomiting usually cease within 24 hours of treatment and are often responsive to antiemetic measures. Although no conclusive efficacy data exist with the following schedules, prolonged administration time of carboplatin, either by continuous 24-hour infusion or by daily pulse doses given for 5 consecutive days, was associated with less severe vomiting than the single-dose intermittent schedule. Emesis was increased when carboplatin was used in combination with other emetogenic compounds. Other gastrointestinal effects observed frequently were pain, in 17% of the patients; diarrhea in 6%; and constipation, also in 6%.
Neurologic toxicity: Peripheral neuropathies have been observed in 4% of patients receiving carboplatin (6% of pretreated ovarian cancer patients) with mild paresthesias occurring most frequently. Carboplatin therapy produces significantly fewer and less severe neurologic side effects than does therapy with cisplatin. However, patients older than 65 years and/or previously treated with cisplatin appear to have an increased risk (10%) for peripheral neuropathies. In 70% of the patients with pre-existing cisplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity, there was no worsening of symptoms during therapy with carboplatin. Clinical ototoxicity and other sensory abnormalities such as visual disturbances and change in taste have been reported in only 1% of the patients. Central nervous system symptoms have been reported in 5% of the patients and appear to be most often related to the use of antiemetics. Although the overall incidence of peripheral neurologic side effects induced by carboplatin is low, prolonged treatment, particularly in cisplatin pretreated patients, may result in cumulative neurotoxicity.
Nephrotoxicity: Development of abnormal renal function test results is uncommon, despite the fact that carboplatin, unlike cisplatin, has usually been administered without high-volume fluid hydration and/or forced diuresis. The incidences of abnormal renal function tests reported are 6% for serum creatinine and 14% for blood urea nitrogen (10% and 22%, respectively, in pretreated ovarian cancer patients). Most of these reported abnormalities have been mild and about one-half of them were reversible.
Creatinine clearance has proven to be the most sensitive measure of kidney function in patients receiving carboplatin, and it appears to be the most useful test for correlating drug clearance and bone marrow suppression. Twenty-seven percent of the patients who had a baseline value of 60 mL/min or more demonstrated a reduction below this value during carboplatin therapy.
Hepatic toxicity: The incidences of abnormal liver function tests in patients with normal baseline values were reported as follows: total bilirubin, 5%; SGOT, 15%; and alkaline phosphatase, 24%; (5%, 19%, and 37%, respectively, in pretreated ovarian cancer patients). These abnormalities have generally been mild and reversible in about one-half of the cases, although the role of metastatic tumor in the liver may complicate the assessment in many patients. In a limited series of patients receiving very high dosages of carboplatin and autologous bone marrow transplantation, severe abnormalities of liver function tests were reported.
Electrolyte changes: The incidences of abnormally decreased serum electrolyte values reported were as follows: sodium, 29%; potassium, 20%; calcium, 22%; and magnesium, 29%; (47%, 28%, 31%, and 43%, respectively, in pretreated ovarian cancer patients). Electrolyte supplementation was not routinely administered concomitantly with Carboplatin, and these electrolyte abnormalities were rarely associated with symptoms.
Allergic reactions: Hypersensitivity to carboplatin has been reported in 2% of the patients. These allergic reactions have been similar in nature and severity to those reported with other platinum-containing compounds, ie, rash, urticaria, erythema, pruritus, and rarely bronchospasm and hypotension. Anaphylactic reactions have been reported. These reactions have been successfully managed with standard epinephrine, corticosteroid and antihistamine therapy.
Injection Site Reactions: Injection site reactions, including redness, swelling, and pain, have been reported. Necrosis associated with extravasation has also been reported.
Other Events: Pain and asthenia were the most frequently reported miscellaneous adverse effects; their relationship to the tumor and to anemia was likely. Alopecia was reported (3%). Cardiovascular, respiratory, genitourinary and mucosal side effects have occurred in 6% or less of the patients. Cardiovascular events (cardiac failure, embolism, cerebrovascular accidents) were fatal in less than 1% of the patients and did not appear to be related to chemotherapy. Cancer-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome has been reported rarely.
Malaise, anorexia, hypertension, dehydration and stomatitis have been reported.

The renal effects of nephrotoxic compounds may be potentiated by carboplatin.

Incompatibilities: Aluminium-containing equipment should not be used.
Handling and Disposal: Procedures for proper handling and disposal of anti-cancer drugs should be considered. Use of 5% sodium hypochlorite solution is recommended as neutralizing agent in cases of Spills or leak of this solution.

Store at 15°- 30°C. Protect from light. Keep in original carton before use.
Once opened, the product should be used immediately. Discard unused portions.
Shelf Life: 24 months, when stored at recommended storage conditions.

Cytotoxic Chemotherapy

L01XA02 - carboplatin ; Belongs to the class of platinum-containing antineoplastic agents. Used in the treatment of cancer.

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