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.
GEFI
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.
First-line treatment of patients with locally advanced (incurable) or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, who have known activating mutations of the EGFR tyrosine kinase.
gefitinib
Exceptional Access Program
(gefitinib - First-line monotherapy in locally advanced (not amenable to curative therapy) or metastatic NSCLC patients who have activating mutations of EGFR-TK, with specific criteria)
(EAP Website)
| gefitinib | 250 mg | PO | Daily |
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(Outpatient prescription available in 250mg tablets) |
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Minimal – No routine prophylaxis; PRN recommended
Other Supportive Care:
Also refer to CCO Antiemetic Recommendations.
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.
Dosage with toxicity
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Toxicity |
Action |
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Grade 2 skin, eye toxicity, poorly tolerated diarrhea |
Hold*, restart at 250mg daily when recovered |
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Grade 3 skin, eye toxicity, diarrhea, LFTs, dehydration |
Hold*, may restart at 250mg daily when recovered |
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Grade 4 toxicities OR GI perforation OR treatment intolerance despite dose interruption |
Discontinue |
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Hold and investigate. Consider discontinuing if ulcerative. |
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Pneumonitis/ILD |
Hold in the presence of cough/dyspnea/fever and investigate. Discontinue if pneumonitis confirmed. |
Hepatic Impairment
Increased gefitinib exposure has been reported in patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment due to cirrhosis. Dose adjustment is not required, but use with caution and monitor closely. Exercise caution in patients with mild to moderate changes in liver function; consider discontinuing gefitinib with severe changes in liver function.
Renal Impairment
No adjustment required in mild or moderate renal impairment. No specific recommendations were found for patients with severe renal impairment.
Dosage in the Elderly
No dosage adjustment required.
Refer to gefitinib drug monograph(s) for additional details of adverse effects
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Very common (≥ 50%) |
Common (25-49%) |
Less common (10-24%) |
Uncommon (< 10%), but may be severe or life-threatening |
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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
- Close monitoring of INR in patients on warfarin, especially initially, or when gefitinib is held or discontinued
- Electrolytes, creatinine and urea, especially in patients at high risk of dehydration; baseline and periodic
- Liver function tests; baseline and routine
- Clinical assessments and grading of GI, skin, eye and respiratory symptoms; at each visit
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Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version
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Gefitinib drug monograph, Cancer Care Ontario.
Mok TS, Wu YL, Thongprasert S, et al. Gefitinib or carboplatin-paclitaxel in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. N Engl J Med 2009; 361(10): 947-57.
Fukuoka M, Wu YL, Thongprasert S, et al. Biomarker analyses and final overall survival results from a phase III, randomized, open-label, first-line study of gefitinib versus carboplatin/paclitaxel in clinically selected patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in Asia (IPASS). Clin Oncol 2011;29(21):2866-74.
March 2021 Added PEBC guideline link
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.