WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS
Myelosuppression
Fatal and serious myelosuppression occurs in DACOGEN-treated patients. Myelosuppression (anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia) is the most frequent cause of DACOGEN dose reduction, delay, and discontinuation. Neutropenia of any grade occurred in 90% of DACOGEN-treated patients with grade 3 or 4 occurring in 87% of patients. Grade 3 or 4 febrile neutropenia occurred in 23% of patients. Thrombocytopenia of any grade occurred in 89% of patients with grade 3 or 4 occurring in 85% of patients. Anemia of any grade occurred in 82% of patients. Perform complete blood count with platelets at baseline, prior to each cycle, and as needed to monitor response and toxicity. Manage toxicity using dose- delay, dose-reduction, growth factors, and anti-infective therapies as needed [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Myelosuppression and worsening neutropenia may occur more frequently in the first or second treatment cycles and may not necessarily indicate progression of underlying MDS.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on findings from human data, animal studies and its mechanism of action, DACOGEN can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and Nonclinical Toxicology]. In preclinical studies in mice and rats, decitabine caused adverse developmental outcomes including embryo-fetal lethality and malformations. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception while receiving DACOGEN and for 6 months following the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception while receiving treatment with DACOGEN and for 3 months following the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis And Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenicity studies with decitabine have not been conducted.
The mutagenic potential of decitabine was tested in several in vitro and in vivo systems. Decitabine increased mutation frequency in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells, and mutations were produced in an Escherichia coli lac-I transgene in colonic DNA of decitabine-treated mice. Decitabine caused chromosomal rearrangements in larvae of fruit flies.
In male mice given IP injections of 0.15, 0.3 or 0.45 mg/m² decitabine (approximately 0.3% to 1% the recommended clinical dose) 3 times a week for 7 weeks, decitabine did not affect survival, body weight gain or hematological measures (hemoglobin and white blood cell counts). Testes weights were reduced, abnormal histology was observed and significant decreases in sperm number were found at doses ≥ 0.3 mg/m². In females mated to males dosed with ≥ 0.3 mg/m² decitabine, pregnancy rate was reduced and preimplantation loss was significantly increased.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on findings from human data, animal studies, and the mechanism of action, DACOGEN can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and Nonclinical Toxicology]. Limited published data on DACOGEN use throughout the first trimester during pregnancy describe adverse developmental outcomes including major birth defects (structural abnormalities). In animal reproduction studies, administration of decitabine to pregnant mice and rats during organogenesis caused adverse developmental outcomes including malformations and embryo-fetal lethality starting at doses approximately 7% of the recommended human dose on a mg/m² basis (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the U.S. general population is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies, respectively.
Data
Human Data
A single published case report of decitabine pregnancy exposure in a 39-year old woman with a hematologic malignancy described multiple structural abnormalities after 6 cycles of therapy in the 18th week of gestation. These abnormalities included holoprosencephaly, absence of nasal bone, mid-facial deformity, cleft lip and palate, polydactyly and rocker-bottom feet. The pregnancy was terminated.
Animal Data
In utero exposure to decitabine causes temporal related defects in the rat and/or mouse, which include growth suppression, exencephaly, defective skull bones, rib/sternabrae defects, phocomelia, digit defects, micrognathia, gastroschisis, micromelia. Decitabine inhibits proliferation and increases apoptosis of neural progenitor cells of the fetal CNS and induces palatal clefting in the developing murine fetus. Studies in mice have also shown that decitabine administration during osteoblastogenesis (day 10 of gestation) induces bone loss in offspring.
In mice exposed to single IP (intraperitoneal) injections (0, 0.9 and 3.0 mg/m², approximately 2% and 7% of the recommended daily clinical dose, respectively) over gestation days 8, 9, 10 or 11, no maternal toxicity was observed but reduced fetal survival was observed after treatment at 3 mg/m² and decreased fetal weight was observed at both dose levels. The 3 mg/m² dose elicited characteristic fetal defects for each treatment day, including supernumerary ribs (both dose levels), fused vertebrae and ribs, cleft palate, vertebral defects, hind-limb defects and digital defects of fore- and hind-limbs.
In rats given a single IP injection of 2.4, 3.6 or 6 mg/m² (approximately 5, 8, or 13% the daily recommended clinical dose, respectively) on gestation days 9-12, no maternal toxicity was observed. No live fetuses were seen at any dose when decitabine was injected on gestation day 9. A significant decrease in fetal survival and reduced fetal weight at doses greater than 3.6 mg/m² was seen when decitabine was given on gestation day 10. Increased incidences of vertebral and rib anomalies were seen at all dose levels, and induction of exophthalmia, exencephaly, and cleft palate were observed at 6.0 mg/m². Increased incidence of foredigit defects was seen in fetuses at doses greater than 3.6 mg/m². Reduced size and ossification of long bones of the fore-limb and hind-limb were noted at 6.0 mg/m².
The effect of decitabine on postnatal development and reproductive capacity was evaluated in mice administered a single 3 mg/m² IP injection (approximately 7% the recommended daily clinical dose) on day 10 of gestation. Body weights of males and females exposed in utero to decitabine were significantly reduced relative to controls at all postnatal time points. No consistent effect on fertility was seen when female mice exposed in utero were mated to untreated males. Untreated females mated to males exposed in utero showed decreased fertility at 3 and 5 months of age (36% and 0% pregnancy rate, respectively). Follow up studies indicated that treatment of pregnant mice with decitabine on gestation day 10 was associated with a reduced pregnancy rate resulting from effects on sperm production in the F1-generation.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of decitabine or its metabolites in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from DACOGEN in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed while receiving DACOGEN and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
Pregnancy Testing
Conduct pregnancy testing of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating DACOGEN.
Contraception
Females
DACOGEN can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women [see Use In Specific Populations]. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception while receiving DACOGEN and for 6 months following the last dose.
Males
Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception while receiving treatment with DACOGEN and for 3 months following the last dose [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Infertility
Based on findings of decitabine in animals, male fertility may be compromised by treatment with DACOGEN. The reversibility of the effect on fertility is unknown [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of DACOGEN in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
Of the total number of patients exposed to DACOGEN in the controlled clinical trial, 61 of 83 patients were age 65 and over, while 21 of 83 patients were age 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.