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.
CAPE(RT)
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.
For the neo-adjuvant treatment of rectal cancer.
capecitabine
ODB - General Benefit
(capecitabine)
(ODB Formulary)
capecitabine | 825 mg /m² | PO | BID* |
(Outpatient prescription in 150 mg and 500 mg tablets; *Total dose 1650 mg/m2/day)
|
Either on days of radiation (5 days per week) OR continuously (7 days per week) during radiotherapy (single cycle).
Minimal
Low
Other Supportive Care:
- Topical emollients (e.g. hand creams, udder balm) may ameliorate the manifestations of hand-foot syndrome in patients receiving capecitabine.
- Supportive care should be provided, including loperamide for diarrhea.
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.
Use capecitabine with extreme caution in patients with partial DPD deficiency; reduce the initial dose substantially, monitor frequently and adjust the dose for toxicity as recommended in the dosage with toxicity section. In patients with unrecognized DPD deficiency, acute, life-threatening toxicity may occur; discontinue if acute grade 2-4 toxicity develops.
Dosage with toxicity
Toxicity
|
Action During a Course of Therapy
|
Dose Adjustment (% of starting dose)
|
Grade 1
|
Maintain dose level
|
Maintain dose level
|
Grade 2
1st appearance
2nd appearance
3rd appearance
4th appearance
|
Interrupt until resolved to grade 0-1
Interrupt until resolved to grade 0-1
Interrupt until resolved to grade 0-1 Discontinue treatment permanently
|
100%
75%
50%
--
|
Grade 3
1st appearance
2nd appearance
3rd appearance OR any evidence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis |
Interrupt until resolved to grade 0-1
Interrupt until resolved to grade 0-1
Discontinue treatment permanently
|
75%
50%
--
|
Grade 4
1st appearance, including SJS, TENS, OR
cardiotoxicity OR acute renal failture
2nd appearance OR any occurrence of confirmed leukoencephalopathy
|
Discontinue permanently Discontinue permanently
|
Discontinue
OR
50%
--
|
Hematological Toxicities:
Modify according to protocol by which patient is being treated; if no guidelines available, refer to Appendix 6 for general recommendations. Hold capecitabine during a treatment cycle in the presence of grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity.
Hepatic Impairment
In patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment, exposure is increased but no dose adjustment is necessary, although caution should be exercised. Use dose modification table above for increases in bilirubin. The use of capecitabine in patients with severe hepatic impairment has not been studied.
Renal Impairment
Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) |
% of starting dose |
51-80 |
100 % with close monitoring |
30-50 |
75 % (use with caution) |
<30 |
CONTRAINDICATED |
Dosage in the Elderly
No dose adjustment for the starting dose is required, but patients should be closely monitored and dose modification should be performed as described above. Older patients are more susceptible to the effects of fluoropyrimidine-based therapies with increased grade 3 / 4 adverse effects, especially when used in combination.
Refer to capecitabine drug monograph(s) for additional details of adverse effects
Very common (≥ 50%) |
Common (25-49%) |
Less common (10-24%) |
Uncommon (< 10%), but may be severe or life-threatening |
|
|
|
|
Refer to capecitabine drug monograph(s) for additional details
- Avoid concomitant administration with sorivudine or analogues given increased risk of capecitabine toxicity (may be fatal). Wait 4 weeks after sorivudine treatment before starting capecitabine.
- Avoid concomitant administration with phenytoin as capecitabine may increase phenytoin levels.
- Avoid leucovorin as this may increase capecitabine toxicity.
- Caution and monitor PT/INR when administered with warfarin; capecitabine increases warfarin exposure.
- Avoid concomitant administration of antacids; these may increase capecitabine exposure.
- Caution and monitor when administered with docetaxel; increased toxicity in elderly observed.
Refer to capecitabine drug monograph(s) for additional details
Administration:
- Doses are given orally approximately 12 hours apart, within 30 minutes after the end of a meal.
- If a capecitabine dose is missed, skip this and give the next dose at the usual time. Missed or omitted doses should not be replaced.
- Store tablets at 15ºC to 30ºC in the original package.
Contraindications:
- Patients who have a known hypersensitivity to capecitabine, its excipients, or 5-fluorouracil
- Patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min)
- Patients with known near or complete absence of DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase) deficiency
- Concomitant use with sorivudine or related analogues (i.e. brivudine) (see Interactions)
- Contains lactose and should not be used in patients with hereditary galactose/glucose/lactase disorders.
Other Warnings/Precautions:
- Use with caution in patients with risk factors for dehydration, pre-existing renal dysfunction, and on nephrotoxic agents
- Use with caution in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease as well as patients taking anticoagulants
- Use with extreme caution in patients with partial DPD deficiency
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
- CBC; baseline and at each visit
- Renal function tests; baseline and regular
- INR or PT; baseline and regular if on anticoagulants
- Clinical toxicity assessment for diarrhea, dehydration, infection, stomatitis, rash, hand-foot syndrome, cardiac, hepatic and neurotoxicity; at each visit
-
Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version
Suggested Clinical Monitoring
- Liver function tests; baseline and regular (if severe organ failure suspected)
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April 2018 updated capecitabine funding to general benefit
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.