Gemcitabine for Mesothelioma TreatmentGemcitabine hydrochloride, marketed as Gemzar® by Eli Lilly and Company,
is a chemotherapy drug approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration in 1998 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, in
2002 for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, in 2004 for
the treatment of breast cancer, and in 2006 for the treatment of ovarian
cancer. Gemcitabine belongs to a class of drugs known as antimetabolites,
more Gemcitabine is administered by intravenous infusion. It is available
in 10 ml size sterile single use vials containing 200 mg of white,
lyophilized powder or 50 ml size sterile single use vials containing
1 g of white, lyophilized powder. It is used alone and in combination
with other chemotherapeutic drugs such as cisplatin and paclitaxel.
Side effects from the use of the drug include nausea and vomiting,
low platelet count, symptoms of infection, bruising and bleeding,
anemia, skin rash and loss of appetite. Gemcitabine belongs to the group of medicines called antimetabolites. Although primary used to treat cancer of the breast, pancreas, and lung, some doctors have been using Gemcitabine in treatment of mesothelioma. Gemcitabine interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal cells may also be affected by the medicine, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may occur after treatment with gemcitabine has been stopped. Gemcitabine page on Yahoo Health More on GemcistabineGemcitabine is used during chemotherapy treatment of certain types of cancers, including mesothelioma, metastatic breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer. Depending on the case, Gemcitabine treatments can either be given alone or combined with a few other cancer medicines. Brief HistoryGemcitabine was first studied in clinical trials in the United States during the early 1990s. A year prior to its approval by the FDA in 1996, Gemcitabine was made available to doctors for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients in a Treatment Investigational New Drug (TIND) study. Over 3000 patients with pancreatic cancer were able to receive Gemcitabine during the TIND study. In these trials, patients receiving the Gemcitabine regimen experienced an increase in their one-year survival time that was significantly better than that seen with the comparator regimen. In 1998, Gemcitabine received an additional approved indication, based on two clinical trials conducted in patients with non small cell lung cancer. Patients were treated either with Gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin, a standard platinum agent, or with a platinum regimen. In both studies, patients who received the Gemcitabine regimen experienced significant tumor shrinkage—at least two times that experienced by patients receiving either of the comparator regimens. In 2004, Gemcitabine received an additional approved indication, based on a large clinical trial of 529 patients. Given with another chemotherapy drug called paclitaxel, Gemcitabine is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer when, after surgery, they have had chemotherapy with a class of drugs called anthracyclines, unless their physical condition would not allow them to receive an anthracycline. In the clinical study, patients with metastatic breast cancer were given either Gemcitabine in combination with paclitaxel or paclitaxel alone. The clinical study showed that patients treated with the Gemcitabine combined with paclitaxel experienced more tumor shrinkage compared with patients who received paclitaxel alone. How Gemcitabine is AdministeredGemcitabine is a colorless fluid which is obtained after dissolving the white powder. It is given as a drip through a fine tube inserted into a vein, over a short period of time. How it WorksGemcitabine works by controlling the growth of rapidly dividing cells which includes the cancer cells—these cancer cells are abnormal cells which grow at uncontrolled rate. The main goal of Gemcitabine is to kill as many cancer cells as possible or to halt the process of cell division in order to prevent further cell growth cause cell death. This is done by damaging the RNA or DNA that tells the cell how to
copy itself in division. If the cells do not divide, they die. Chemotherapy
more likely kills the cells if the cells are diving faster which causes
the tumor to shrink. It also induces cell suicide or apoptosis. Side Effect of GemcitabineAt the end of treatment fatigue and tiredness can be the most troublesome side effects that the patients may encounter. For some people it takes almost 6 months to a year after their treatment to get their energy back to normal. The functioning of bone marrow that makes white blood cells is also temporarily affected. Now, as lesser white blood count means lesser ability to fight infections, drop in the functioning of bone marrow can increase the chances of infections in patients. This can result in headaches, cough, aching muscles, sore throat, and pain while passing urine. You may also feel cold and shivery. Sometimes infections can be life threatening and it is recommended that you immediately contact your doctor in case it occurs. Problems in functioning of bone marrow may also cause a drop in the number of red blood cells made by bone marrow. This can result in anemia, which may in turn, cause breathlessness and tiredness. In this case, the patient may be required to undergo blood transfusion. A drop in the number of platelets produced by bone marrow may cause nosebleeds. Patients may also see tiny red spots or bruises on arms or legs. Availability And Storage Of GemcitabineGemcitabine is available in two strengths, 200 milligrams and 1 gram which is single use vial.
The annual sale of these strengths of Gemcitabine injections is approximately $680 million in the United States. Gemcitabine should be stored away from moisture, heat and light.
It should be stored at the room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees
F. Gemcitabine and vinorelbine in pemetrexed-pretreated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. A multicentre phase II study of cisplatin and gemcitabine for malignant mesothelioma This website is sponsored by Jonathan David* of
The David Law Firm. The David Law Firm is located in The Woodlands,
Texas (Greater Houston Area) and can be reached toll free at 1-800-998-9729
for more information on mesothelioma. Jonathan David is not a medical
doctor. The information on these pages is for the education of mesothelioma
patients and their families regarding potential medical and legal
options. Patients are advised to consult with a medical doctor.
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The
use of chemotherapy in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma:
a clinical practice guideline.
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specifically,
the pyrimidine analogs. These are compounds having similar properties
as pyrimidine, a precursor of the genetic material (DNA), but different
chemical structure. Gemcitabine works by incorporating itself into
the genetic material during cell replication and replacing the pyrimidine
deoxycytidine in DNA. This inhibits DNA replication, thus arresting
the growth of tumors. Gemcitabine is a relatively new drug and is
being studied for the treatment of other types of cancer.