CARBOPLATIN

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.

DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION 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/m 2 IV on day 1 every 4 weeks (alternatively see Formula Dosing). In general, however, single intermittent courses of carboplatin should not be repeated until the neutrophil count is at least 2,000 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/m 2 IV on day 1 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles (alternatively see Formula Dosing ). Cyclophosphamide - 600 mg/m 2 IV on day 1 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles. For directions regarding the use and administration of cyclophosphamide please refer to its package insert (see CLINICAL STUDIES ). 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 below 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. Platelets Neutrophils Adjusted Dose* (From Prior Course) > 100,000 > 2,000 125% 50 to 100,000 500 to 2,000 No adjustment < 50,000 < 500 75% * Percentages apply to carboplatin injection as a single agent or to both carboplatin and cyclophosphamide combination. In the controlled studies, dosages were also adjusted at a lower level (50% to 60%) for severe myelosuppression. Escalations above 125% were not recommended for these studies. 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 below have been used. Baseline Creatinine Clearance Recommended Dose on Day 1 41 to 59 mL/min 250 mg/m 2 16 to 40 mL/min 200 mg/m 2 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 injection 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 (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ). 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 dos…

WARNINGS 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 injection 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 injection dosages in these patients should be appropriately reduced (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ) 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 five 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 (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS , Allergic Reactions ). High dosages of carboplatin (more than 4 times the recommended dose) have resulted in severe abnormalities of liver function tests. Carboplatin injection 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.

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

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

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.

ADVERSE REACTIONS To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact BPI Labs, LLC at (727) 471-0850 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 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 First Line Combination Therapy* Percent Second Line Single Agent Therapy** Percent Bone Marrow Thrombocytopenia <100,000/mm 3 <50,000/mm 3 66 33 62 35 Neutropenia <2,000 cells/mm 3 <1,000 cells/mm 3 96 82 67 21 Leucopenia <4,000 cells/mm 3 <2,000 cells/mm 3 97 71 85 26 Anemia <11 g/dL < 8 g/dL 90 14 90 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 * 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. 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); leukopenia with WBC counts below 2,000/mm 3 occurs in 15% of the patients (26% of pretreated ovarian cancer patients). The nadir usually occurs about day 21 in patients receiving single agent therapy. By day 28, 90% of patients have platelet counts above 100,000/mm 3 ; 74% have neutrophil counts above 2,000/mm 3 ; 67% have leukocyte counts above 4,000/mm 3 . 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 6…