Unicarb Injection

INDICATIONS Initial Treatment of Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma Carboplatin injection is indicated for the initial treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma in established combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents. One established combination regimen consists of Carboplatin and cyclophosphamide. Two randomized controlled studies conducted by the NCIC and SWOG with Carboplatin versus cisplatin, both in combination with cyclophosphamide, have demonstrated equivalent overall survival between the two groups (see CLINICAL STUDIES ). There is limited statistical power to demonstrate equivalence in overall pathologic complete response rates and long-term survival (≥ 3 years) because of the small number of patients with these outcomes: the small number of patients with residual tumor < 2 cm after initial surgery also limits the statistical power to demonstrate equivalence in this subgroup. Secondary Treatment of Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma Carboplatin injection is indicated for the palliative treatment of patients with ovarian carcinoma recurrent after prior chemotherapy, including patients who have been previously treated with cisplatin. Within the group of patients previously treated with cisplatin, those who have developed progressive disease while receiving cisplatin therapy may have a decreased response rate.

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Source: US FDA prescribing information, via openFDA. Provided for general information only — it is not a substitute for your doctor's or pharmacist's advice. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.

Boxed warning. 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. PRECAUTIONS General Needles or intravenous administration sets containing aluminium parts that may come in contact with Carboplatin injection should not be used for the preparation or administration of the drug. Aluminium can react with Carboplatin causing precipitate formation and loss of potency. Drug Interactions The renal effects of nephrotoxic compounds may be potentiated by Carboplatin. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, 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. Pregnancy Pregnancy Category D See WARNINGS. 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 injection. Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established (see WARNINGS: "audiologic toxicity"). Geriatric Use 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 1,942 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. Abridged from the full prescribing information.

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Source: US FDA prescribing information, via openFDA. Provided for general information only — it is not a substitute for your doctor's or pharmacist's advice. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.

For a comparison of toxicities when Carboplatin or cisplatin was given in combination with cyclophosphamide, see CLINICAL STUDIES: Use with Cyclophosphamide for Initial Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: Comparative Toxicity. ADVERSE EXPERIENCES IN PATIENTS WITH OVARIAN CANCER * Use with Cyclophosphamide for Initial Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: Data are based on the experience of 393 patients with ovarian cancer (regardless of baseline status) who received initial combination therapy with Carboplatin and cyclophosphamide in two randomized controlled studies conducted by SWOG and NCIC (see CLINICAL STUDIES ). Combination with cyclophosphamide as well as duration of treatment may be responsible for the differences that can be noted in the adverse experience table. * * Single Agent Use for the Secondary Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: Data are based on the experience of 553 patients with previously treated ovarian carcinoma (regardless of baseline status) who received single agent Carboplatin. First Line Combination Therapy * Percent Second Line Single Agent Therapy * * Percent Bone Marrow Thrombocytopenia <100,000/mm3 66 62 <50,000/mm3 33 35 Neutropenia <2,000 cells/mm3 96 67 <1,000 cells/mm3 82 21 Leukopenia <4,000 cells/mm3 97 85 <2,000 cells/mm3 71 26 Anemia <11 g/dL 90 90 <8g/dL 14 21 Infections 16 5 Bleeding 8 5 Transfusions 35 44 Gastrointestinal Nausea and vomiting 93 92 Vomiting 83 81 Other GI side effects 46 21 Neurologic Peripheral neuropathies 15 6 Ototoxicity 12 1 Other sensory side effects 5 1 Central neurotoxicity 26 5 Renal Serum creatinine elevations 6 10 Blood urea elevations 17 22 Hepatic Bilirubin elevations 5 5 SGOT elevations 20 19 Alkaline phosphatase elevations 29 37 Electrolytes loss Sodium 10 47 Potassium 16 28 Calcium 16 31 Magnesium 61 43 Other side effects Pain 44 23 Asthenia 41 11 Cardiovascular 19 6 Respiratory 10 6 Allergic 11 2 Genitourinary 10 2 Alopecia 49 2 Mucositis 8 1 In the narrative section that follows, the incidences of adverse events are based on data from 1,893 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/mm 3 occurs in 25% of the patients (35% of pretreated ovarian cancer patients); neutropenia with granulocyte counts below 1,000/mm 3 occurs in 16% of the patients (21% of pretreated ovarian cancer patients); Abridged from the full prescribing information.

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Source: US FDA prescribing information, via openFDA. Provided for general information only — it is not a substitute for your doctor's or pharmacist's advice. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.