WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS
Bone Marrow Suppression
Bone marrow suppression (primarily neutropenia) is a
dose-limiting toxicity of HYCAMTIN. Neutropenia is not cumulative over time.
The following data on myelosuppression are based on an integrated safety
database from 4 thoracic malignancy trials (N = 682) using HYCAMTIN capsules at
2.3 mg/m²/day for 5 consecutive days. The median day for neutrophil and
platelet nadirs occurred on Day 15.
Neutropenia
Grade 4 neutropenia ( < 500 cells/mm³ ) occurred in 32%
of patients with a median duration of 7 days and was most common during Course
1 of treatment (20% of patients). Clinical sequelae of neutropenia included
infection (17%), febrile neutropenia (4%), sepsis (2%), and septic death (1%).
Pancytopenia has been reported.
Topotecan can cause fatal typhlitis (neutropenic
enterocolitis). Consider the possibility of typhlitis in patients presenting
with fever, neutropenia, and abdominal pain [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Thrombocytopenia
Grade 4 thrombocytopenia ( < 10,000 cells/mm³) occurred
in 6% of patients, with a median duration of 3 days.
Anemia
Grade 3 or 4 anemia ( < 8 g/dL) occurred in 25% of patients.
Administer the first course of HYCAMTIN only to patients
with a neutrophil count of ≥ 1,500 cells/mm³ and a platelet count ≥ 100,000
cells/mm³. Monitor peripheral blood cell counts frequently during treatment
with HYCAMTIN. Refer to Section 2.2 for dose modification guidelines for
hematological toxicities in subsequent courses.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, including severe and life-threatening diarrhea
requiring hospitalization, can occur during treatment with HYCAMTIN capsules.
Diarrhea caused by HYCAMTIN capsules can occur at the same time as drug-induced
neutropenia and its sequelae. In the 682 patients who received HYCAMTIN
capsules in the 4 lung cancer trials, the incidence of diarrhea caused by HYCAMTIN
capsules was 22%, with 4% Grade 3 and 0.4% Grade 4. The incidence of Grade 3 or
4 diarrhea proximate (within 5 days) to Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia events in the
group receiving HYCAMTIN capsules was 5%. The median time to onset of Grade 2
or worse diarrhea was 9 days in the group receiving HYCAMTIN capsules. Manage
diarrhea caused by HYCAMTIN capsules aggressively. Do not administer HYCAMTIN
capsules to patients with Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea. Reduce the dose of HYCAMTIN
after recovery to Grade 1or less [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Interstitial Lung Disease
Interstitial lung disease (ILD), including fatalities,
has occurred with HYCAMTIN. Underlying risk factors include history of ILD,
pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, thoracic radiation, and use of pneumotoxic
drugs and/or colony stimulating factors. Monitor patients for pulmonary symptoms
indicative of interstitial lung disease (e.g., cough, fever, dyspnea, and/or
hypoxia), and discontinue HYCAMTIN if a new diagnosis of ILD is confirmed.
Embryofetal Toxicity
HYCAMTIN can cause fetal harm when administered to a
pregnant woman. Topotecan caused embryolethality, fetotoxicity, and
teratogenicity in rats and rabbits when administered during organogenesis. If
this drug is used during pregnancy, or if a patient becomes pregnant while taking
this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus [see
Use in Specific Populations].
Advise females of reproductive potential to use highly
effective contraception during treatment and for at least 1 month after the
last dose of HYCAMTIN. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if
they become pregnant, or if pregnancy is suspected, while taking
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient
labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION)
- Bone Marrow Suppression
Inform patients that HYCAMTIN decreases blood cell counts such as white
blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells. Instruct patients to notify their
healthcare provider promptly for fever or other signs of infection such as
chills, cough, or burning pain on urination. Advise patients that frequent
blood tests will be performed while taking HYCAMTIN to monitor for bone marrow
suppression [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Embryofetal Toxicity
Advise patients on pregnancy planning and prevention. Advise females of
reproductive potential to use highly effective contraception during treatment
and for 1 month following treatment with HYCAMTIN [see WARNINGS AND
PRECAUTIONS, Use In Specific Populations]. Advise males with a
female sexual partner of reproductive potential to use effective contraception
during and for 3 months after treatment [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
- Nursing Mothers
Advise patients to discontinue nursing during treatment with HYCAMTIN [see Use
in Specific Populations].
- Infertility
Advise male and female patients of the potential risk for impaired fertility
and possible family planning options.
- Diarrhea
Inform patients that HYCAMTIN capsules cause diarrhea which may be severe
and lifethreatening. Instruct patients how to manage and/or prevent diarrhea
and to inform their physician if severe diarrhea occurs during treatment with
HYCAMTIN capsules [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenicity testing of topotecan has not been done.
Nevertheless, topotecan is known to be genotoxic to mammalian cells and is a
probable carcinogen. Topotecan was mutagenic to L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells and
clastogenic to cultured human lymphocytes with and without metabolic
activation. It was also clastogenic to mouse bone marrow. Topotecan did not cause
mutations in bacterial cells.
Topotecan given to female rats prior to mating at a dose
of 1.4 mg/m² IV (about 0.6 times the oral clinical dose on a mg/m² basis)
caused superovulation possibly related to inhibition of follicular atresia.
This dose given to pregnant female rats also caused increased pre-implantation loss.
Studies in dogs given 0.4 mg/m² IV (about 0.2 times the oral clinical dose on a
mg/m² basis) of topotecan daily for a month suggest that treatment may cause an
increase in the incidence of multinucleated spermatogonial giant cells in the
testes. Topotecan may impair fertility in women and men.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category D
Risk Summary
HYCAMTIN can cause fetal harm when administered to a
pregnant woman. Topotecan caused embryolethality, fetotoxicity, and
teratogenicity in rats and rabbits when administered during organogenesis. If
this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking
this drug, inform the patient of the potential hazard to a fetus.
Animal Data
In rabbits, an IV dose of 0.10 mg/kg/day (about equal to
the clinical IV dose on a mg/m² basis) given on days 6 through 20 of gestation
caused maternal toxicity, embryolethality, and reduced fetal body weight. In
the rat, an IV dose of 0.23 mg/kg/day (about equal to the clinical IV dose on a
mg/m² basis) given for 14 days before mating through gestation day 6 caused
fetal resorption, microphthalmia, pre-implant loss, and mild maternal toxicity.
Administration of an IV dose of 0.10 mg/kg/day (about half the clinical IV dose
on a mg/m² basis) to rats on days 6 through 17 of gestation caused an increase
in post-implantation mortality. This dose also caused an increase in total
fetal malformations. The most frequent malformations were of the eye (microphthalmia,
anophthalmia, rosette formation of the retina, coloboma of the retina, ectopic orbit),
brain (dilated lateral and third ventricles), skull, and vertebrae.
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether topotecan is present in human
milk. Lactating rats excrete high concentrations of topotecan into milk. Female
rats given 4.72 mg/m² IV (about twice the clinical dose on a mg/m² basis)
excreted topotecan into milk at concentrations up to 48-fold higher than those
in plasma. Because many drugs are present in human milk, and because of the
potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from HYCAMTIN, 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
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not
been established.
Geriatric Use
Of the 682 patients with thoracic cancer in 4 clinical
trials who received HYCAMTIN capsules, 33% (n = 225) were aged 65 years and
older, while 4.8% (n = 33) were aged 75 years and older. Treatment-related
diarrhea was more frequent in patients aged ≥ 65 years (28%) compared with
those younger than 65 years (19%). [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, ADVERSE
REACTIONS]
No overall differences in effectiveness were observed
between patients 65 years and older and younger patients.
Renal Impairment
The systemic exposure to both topotecan lactone and total
topotecan increased in patients with renal impairment compared with that in
patients with normal renal function. No dosage adjustment is recommended for
patients with mild renal impairment (CLcr = 50-79 mL/min). Adjust the dose of
HYCAMTIN capsules in patients with moderate (CLcr = 30-49 mL/min) and severe
(CLcr < 30 mL/min) renal impairment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY].
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
Contraception
Females: Counsel patients on pregnancy planning and
prevention. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use highly
effective contraception during and for 1 month following treatment with
HYCAMTIN. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they become pregnant,
or if pregnancy is suspected, while taking HYCAMTIN [see Use in Specific
Populations].
Males: HYCAMTIN may damage spermatozoa, resulting
in possible genetic and fetal abnormalities. Advise males with a female sexual
partner of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during and for
3 months after treatment with HYCAMTIN [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Infertility
Females: In females of reproductive potential,
HYCAMTIN may have both acute and long-term effects on fertility [see Nonclinical
Toxicology].
Males: Effects on spermatogenesis have been
observed in animals administered HYCAMTIN. Advise males of the potential risk
for impaired fertility and to seek counseling on fertility and family planning
options prior to starting treatment.