Gemcitabine

Drug information

• Prescribing information (Lilly, PDF)
• Gemzar website (Lilly)
• Monograph (VIHA, PDF)

Indications

Biliary Tract Cancer

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) 1000 mg/m2 iv d1, 8
• Q3w

References

Park, JS et al. Single-agent Gemcitabine in the Treatment of Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers: a Phase II Study. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2005; 35:68

Breast Cancer

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) 725 mg/m2 iv qw x 3 wks evey 4wks

References

Carmichael, J et al. Advanced breast cancer: a phase II trial with gemcitabine. J Clin Oncol 1995; 13:2731

Ovarian Epithelial Cancer

Chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic cancer

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) 800-1000 mg/m2 iv over 1 h qw x 3 wks every 4 wks

References

Mutch DG et al. Randomized phase III trial of gemcitabine compared with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25:2811

Markman, M et al. Phase 2 trial of single-agent gemcitabine in platinum-paclitaxel refractory ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2003; 90:593

Pancreatic Cancer

Adjuvant chemotherapy

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) 1000 mg/m2 iv over 30 min qw x 3 weeks
• Q4w x 6 cycles

References

Oettle H et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine vs observation in patients undergoing curative-intent resection of pancreatic cancer. JAMA 2007; 297:267

Chemotherapy for stage IV (metastatic) cancer

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) 1000 mg/m2 iv over 30 min qw x 7 wks, followed by 1 w break, then weekly x 3 wks every 4 wks

References

Burris, HA 3rd et al. Improvements in survival and clinical benefit with gemcitabine as first-line therapy for patients with advanced pancreas cancer: a randomized trial. J Clin Oncol 1997; 15:2403

Fixed-dose-rate Gemcitabine

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) 1500 mg/m2 iv over 150 min qw x 3 wks every 4 wks

References

Poplin E et al. Phase III trial of gemcitabine (30-minute infusion) versus gemcitabine (fixed-dose-rate infusion [FDR) versus gemcitabine + oxaliplatin (GEMOX) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (E6201). 2006 ASCO annual meeting. Abstract LBA4004]

Lung Cancer Non Small Cell

Chemotherapy for stage IV (metastatic) cancer

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) 1000 mg/m2 iv d 1, 8 and 15 q4w

References

Manegold C et al. Single-agent gemcitabine versus cisplatin-etoposide: early results of a randomized phase II study in locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Ann Oncol 1997; 8: 525

Sarcoma

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar) 1200 mg/m2 iv over 120 min d1, 8 q3w

References

Maki RG et al. Randomized phase II study of gemcitabine and docetaxel compared with gemcitabine alone in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25:2755