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Drug Formulary information is intended for use by healthcare professionals. It is not intended to be medical advice. Some of the information, including information about funding for cancer drugs, does not apply to all patients. Cancer treatment plans are unique to each patient. If you are a patient, please speak with your healthcare team to understand how this information applies to you.

A - Regimen Name

CRBPGEMC Regimen
Gemcitabine-CARBOplatin


Disease Site
Gynecologic - Ovary

Intent
Palliative

Regimen Category
Evidence-Informed :

Regimen is considered appropriate as part of the standard care of patients; meaningfully improves outcomes (survival, quality of life), tolerability or costs compared to alternatives (recommended by the Disease Site Team and national consensus body e.g. pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review, pCODR).  Recommendation is based on an appropriately conducted phase III clinical trial relevant to the Canadian context OR (where phase III trials are not feasible) an appropriately sized phase II trial. Regimens where one or more drugs are not approved by Health Canada for any indication will be identified under Rationale and Use.


Rationale and Uses

Treatment of platinum sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (with a progression-free interval ≥ 6 months since the last line of platinum-based therapy), if the option to participate in a clinical trial is not available.  This is one of three recommended combination regimens; other options include carboplatin with either paclitaxel or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin.

 
B - Drug Regimen

gemcitabine

(Round to nearest 10 mg)
1000 mg /m² IV Days 1 & 8
CARBOplatin

(Round to nearest 10 mg)
AUC 4 IV Day 1
Adjust Carboplatin dose to AUC target (using Calvert formula) as outlined in "Other Notes" section.
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C - Cycle Frequency

REPEAT EVERY 21 DAYS

For a usual total of 6 cycles in responding patients

 
D - Premedication and Supportive Measures

Antiemetic Regimen:

Moderate (Carboplatin AUC < 5) (D1)
Low (D8)

Other Supportive Care:

Also refer to CCO Antiemetic Recommendations.

 
E - Dose Modifications

Doses should be modified according to the protocol by which the patient is being treated. The following recommendations have been adapted from clinical trials or product monographs and could be considered.

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Dosage with toxicity

Dose on day 1 of Cycle:
 
Worst Toxicity in Previous Cycle
Gemcitabine
Carboplatin
Non-Hematologic
(related organ)
 
Hematologic
 
% Full Dose*
 
% Full Dose*
Grade 3
or
Febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenic bleeding 
 
75%
 
75%#
         Grade 4
 
 
 
 
Consider discontinuing,
or ↓ to 75%
Consider discontinuing,
or ↓ to 75%
Day 8 holds in > 1 cycle
 
75%
100%
Pneumonitis,
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS),
Capillary Leak Syndrome (CLS)
 
 
Discontinue 
Discontinue
Non-Hematologic
(related organ)
  Hematologic Gemcitabine % Full Dose* Cisplatin % Full Dose*
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS),
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)
    Discontinue Discontinue
* do not retreat until AGC ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, platelets ≥ 100 x 109/L and toxicity ≤ grade 2.
# use Egorin formula if isolated thrombocytopenia
 

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Dose on day 8 of Cycle
 
Toxicity on Day 8 of cycle
 
Non-hematologic
(related organ)
 
Hematologic
Gemcitabine
(% Full Dose)
AGC
(x 106/L)
 
Platelets
(x 106/L)
≤ grade 2
and
> 1000
and
> 100,000
100%
≤ grade 2
and
500-1000
 
or
50,000-100,000
Consider Omit,
or ↓ to 75%
Grade 3 or 4
or
< 500
or
< 50,000
Omit, ↓ to 75% at restart (if applicable) for non-hematologic toxicity
Pneumonitis
HUS
SJS
TEN
CLS
 
-
 
-
Discontinue



Hepatic Impairment

Bilirubin
 
AST/ALT
Gemcitabine
(% previous dose)
Carboplatin
(% previous dose)
1-2 x ULN
And / or
<2 x ULN
100%
100%
2-4 x ULN
2-5 x ULN
Caution
100%
> 4 x ULN
> 5 x ULN
Caution, consider ↓
Caution, consider ↓
 

Renal Impairment

CrCl (mL/min)
Gemcitabine
(% previous dose)
Carboplatin
(% previous dose)
> 60
100%
Use Calvert formula
40-60
100%
20-40
Caution
< 20
Consider discontinuing or ↓
Discontinue

 
F - Adverse Effects
Refer to gemcitabine, CARBOplatin drug monograph(s) for additional details of adverse effects

Most Common Side Effects 

Less Common Side Effects, but may be
Severe or Life-Threatening

  • Myelosuppression ± infection, bleeding (may be severe)
  • Fatigue, flu-like symptoms
  • Musculoskeletal pain
  • Rash (may be severe)
  • Edema
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Elevated LFTs (may be severe)
  • Neurotoxicity (ototoxicity)
  • Nephrotoxicity, proteinuria
  • Abnormal electrolytes
  • Pneumonitis/ARDS
  • Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
  • Secondary malignancies
  • Capillary leak syndrome
  • Arterial/venous thromboembolism
  • Arrhythmia
  • Cardiotoxicity
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Vasculitis
 
G - Interactions
Refer to gemcitabine, CARBOplatin drug monograph(s) for additional details
 
H - Drug Administration and Special Precautions
Refer to gemcitabine, CARBOplatin drug monograph(s) for additional details
 
I - Recommended Clinical Monitoring

Treating physicians may decide to monitor more or less frequently for individual patients but should always consider recommendations from the product monograph.

Recommended Clinical Monitoring

  • Clinical toxicity assessment (including flu-like symptoms, fatigue, rash, edema, GI, pulmonary, neurotoxicity, infection, bleeding, ototoxicity); at each visit
  • CBC before each cycle and on day 8.
  • Baseline and regular liver function tests
  • Baseline and regular renal function tests and electrolytes (including magnesium)
  • Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version


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J - Administrative Information

Approximate Patient Visit
Day 1: 2 hours; Day 8: 45 minutes
 
K - References

Carboplatin and gemcitabine drug monographs, Cancer Care Ontario.

Pfisterer J, Plante M, Vergote I, et al. Gemcitabine plus carboplatin compared with carboplatin in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer: an intergroup trial of the AGO-OVAR, the NCIC CTG, and the EORTC GCG. J Clin Oncol 2006;24(29):4699-707.


PEBC Advice Documents or Guidelines

May 2019 Updated emetic risk category


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L - Other Notes

Calvert Formula: (area under the curve method)

 
DOSE (mg) = target AUC X (GFR + 25)
  • AUC = product of serum concentration (mg/mL) and time (min)
  • GFR (glomerular filtration rate) expressed as measured Creatinine Clearance or estimated from Serum Creatinine (by Cockcroft and Gault method or Jelliffe method)

Calvert AH, Newell DR, Gumbrell LA, et al, Carboplatin dosage: Prospective evaluation of a simple formula based on renal function.  J Clin Oncol, 1989; 7: 1748-1756

 
M - Disclaimer

Regimen Abstracts
A Regimen Abstract is an abbreviated version of a Regimen Monograph and contains only top level information on usage, dosing, schedule, cycle length and special notes (if available). It is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice, and all uses of the Regimen Abstract are subject to clinical judgment. Such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability, and Cancer Care Ontario disclaims all liability for the use of this information, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits that arise from such use.
Information in regimen abstracts is accurate to the extent of the ST-QBP regimen master listings, and has not undergone the full review process of a regimen monograph.  Full regimen monographs will be published for each ST-QBP regimen as they are developed.
Regimen Monographs
Refer to the New Drug Funding Program or Ontario Public Drug Programs websites for the most up-to-date public funding information.
The information set out in the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information (for health professionals) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects of a particular drug, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition. The information in the Formulary is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.
The format and content of the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information contained in the Formulary will change as they are reviewed and revised on a periodic basis. The date of last revision will be visible on each page of the monograph and regimen. Since standards of usage are constantly evolving, it is advised that the Formulary not be used as the sole source of information. It is strongly recommended that original references or product monograph be consulted prior to using a chemotherapy regimen for the first time.
Some Formulary documents, such as the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets and symptom management information (for patients), are intended for patients. Patients should always consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions regarding any information set out in the Formulary documents.
While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in the Formulary, such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability.
CCO and the Formulary’s content providers shall have no liability, whether direct, indirect, consequential, contingent, special, or incidental, related to or arising from the information in the Formulary or its use thereof, whether based on breach of contract or tort (including negligence), and even if advised of the possibility thereof. Anyone using the information in the Formulary does so at his or her own risk, and by using such information, agrees to indemnify CCO and its content providers from any and all liability, loss, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such person’s use of the information in the Formulary.