Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Drug: ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension
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Black Box Warning

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension is indicated for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated.

 

Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC): The total number of neutrophils (infection-fighting cells) in the body; normal levels of neutrophils range from approximately 1,500 cells/mm3 to 1,800 cells/mm3.

Albumin: Natural human protein; it is an integral transporter of nutrients within the body.

Alopecia: Loss of hair from sites all over the body.

Anemia: Decreased number of red blood cells.

Asthenia: General weakness and drowsiness.

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B

Bradycardia: Abnormally low heart rate.

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H

Hypersensitivity reaction: Refers to an exaggerated allergic-type response to a substance.

Hypotension: Abnormally low blood pressure.

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I

Injection site reaction: Refers to redness, swelling, inflammation, or sores at the site where the needle is inserted and medication is administered.

Intravenous infusion: Introduction of a solution, such as various cancer therapies, into the body through a vein.

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M

Metastatic breast cancer: Breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body.

Mucositis (oral): Inflammation and tenderness of a mucous membrane, in this case the lining of the mouth (mouth sores).

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N

Neutropenia: Decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils) in your circulation; without these blood cells, your risk for serious infection increases. Infections may require hospitalization and can delay chemotherapy treatment.

Neutrophil: Specific type of white blood cell; plays a role in fighting infections.

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O

Overall response-rate: The percentage of patients whose tumors were reduced in size as a result of treatment.

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P

Paclitaxel: A chemotherapy agent.

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S

Sensory neuropathy: Condition of the peripheral nerves that causes numbness, tingling, and burning sensations in the arms and legs.

Solvent: A chemical used to dissolve the active drug before it can be injected into the bloodstream.

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T

Tumor: Abnormal growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled multiplication of cells that serve no normal bodily function.

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Important Safety Information & Boxed Warning

You should receive ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) under the care of a doctor who is trained to use cancer drugs. Because you may have side effects from your treatment, you should get this medicine in a clinic or hospital with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are trained to give cancer drugs.

ABRAXANE therapy should not be given to patients with metastatic breast cancer who have low blood counts. Low blood counts, especially low white blood cell counts, may make you more likely to get an infection. In order to check for low blood counts your doctor may need to take some blood to test your blood counts.

Note: Abraxane is paclitaxel made with the human blood protein albumin. This makes it behave differently in the body than regular paclitaxel. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL DRUGS.

Important Safety Information

One of the more important side effects associated with chemotherapy is neutropenia, which is a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils). Normal levels range from approximately 1,500 cells/mm3 to 1,800 cells/mm3 (but vary according to several factors, such as age and race). If levels fall below 500 cells/mm3, your risk of developing an infection increases and treatment may be interrupted. To avoid the risk of serious infection and fever, your doctor will monitor your absolute neutrophil count (ANC) during therapy.

Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with ABRAXANE. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you become pregnant, or you plan to become pregnant while taking ABRAXANE. Discuss with your doctor how ABRAXANE may affect fertility. Nursing a baby while taking ABRAXANE is not recommended because the drug may be present in breast milk

The most important adverse events included lower white and red blood cell counts, infections, tingling and numbness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint aches, and mouth sores. Other adverse reactions included weakness, visual disturbances, fluid retention, hair loss, and liver and kidney dysfunction. Low platelet counts, allergic reactions (which in rare cases were severe), cardiovascular reactions, and injection site reactions were uncommon.

Sensory neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet) can occur with ABRAXANE and other paclitaxel medications. Severe sensory neuropathy can improve with proper management, as prescribed by your doctor. You should tell your nurse or doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet while taking ABRAXANE.

Please talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions regarding the potential side effects of ABRAXANE therapy. You may want to review the Product Information, including Warnings, Precautions, and Contraindications.

The information on this site is intended for US residents only.

©2008 Abraxis BioScience, Inc.
and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
All Rights Reserved. AO 711/256325  2/08

ABRAXANE is marketed under a
co-promotion agreement between
Abraxis BioScience, Inc. and AstraZeneca.

Abraxis
AstraZeneca

Abraxis Oncology is a division of Abraxis
BioScience, Inc. All Abraxis BioScience,
Inc. corporate names, names of services,
and names of products referred to herein
are trade names, service marks, and/or
trademarks that are owned by or licensed
to Abraxis BioScience, its divisions or its
affiliates, unless otherwise noted.

Important Safety Information & Boxed Warning

You should receive ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) under the care of a doctor who is trained to use cancer drugs. Because you may have side effects from your treatment, you should get this medicine in a clinic or hospital with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are trained to give cancer drugs.

ABRAXANE therapy should not be given to patients with metastatic breast cancer who have low blood counts. Low blood counts, especially low white blood cell counts, may make you more likely to get an infection. In order to check for low blood counts your doctor may need to take some blood to test your blood counts.

Note: Abraxane is paclitaxel made with the human blood protein albumin. This makes it behave differently in the body than regular paclitaxel. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL DRUGS.

Important Safety Information

One of the more important side effects associated with chemotherapy is neutropenia, which is a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils). Normal levels range from approximately 1,500 cells/mm3 to 1,800 cells/mm3 (but vary according to several factors, such as age and race). If levels fall below 500 cells/mm3, your risk of developing an infection increases and treatment may be interrupted. To avoid the risk of serious infection and fever, your doctor will monitor your absolute neutrophil count (ANC) during therapy.

Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with ABRAXANE. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you become pregnant, or you plan to become pregnant while taking ABRAXANE. Discuss with your doctor how ABRAXANE may affect fertility. Nursing a baby while taking ABRAXANE is not recommended because the drug may be present in breast milk

The most important adverse events included lower white and red blood cell counts, infections, tingling and numbness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint aches, and mouth sores. Other adverse reactions included weakness, visual disturbances, fluid retention, hair loss, and liver and kidney dysfunction. Low platelet counts, allergic reactions (which in rare cases were severe), cardiovascular reactions, and injection site reactions were uncommon.

Sensory neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet) can occur with ABRAXANE and other paclitaxel medications. Severe sensory neuropathy can improve with proper management, as prescribed by your doctor. You should tell your nurse or doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet while taking ABRAXANE.

Please talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions regarding the potential side effects of ABRAXANE therapy. You may want to review the Product Information, including Warnings, Precautions, and Contraindications.

The information on this site is intended for US residents only.

©2008 Abraxis BioScience, Inc. and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. All Rights Reserved. AO 711/256325  2/08
(Site updated 2/07)

ABRAXANE is marketed under a co-promotion agreement between Abraxis BioScience, Inc. and AstraZeneca.

Abraxis
AstraZeneca

Abraxis Oncology is a division of Abraxis BioScience, Inc. All Abraxis BioScience, Inc. corporate names, names of services, and names of products referred to herein are trade names, service marks, and/or trademarks that are owned by or licensed to Abraxis BioScience, its divisions or its affiliates, unless otherwise noted.