8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1 Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on animal data and its mechanism of action, Topotecan Injection can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available clinical data on the use of topotecan in pregnancy. Topotecan caused embryolethality, fetotoxicity, and teratogenicity in rats and rabbits when administered during organogenesis at doses similar to the clinical dose (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.
In the U.S. general population, the background risk of major birth defects is 2% to 4% and of miscarriage is 15% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.
Data
Animal Data
In rabbits, an intravenous dose of 0.10 mg/kg/day [(about equal to the 1.5 mg/m2 clinical dose based on body surface area (BSA)] given on Days 6 through 20 of gestation caused maternal toxicity, embryolethality, and reduced fetal body weight. In the rat, an intravenous dose of 0.23 mg/kg/day (about equal to the 1.5 mg/m2 clinical dose based on BSA) given for 14 days before mating through gestation Day 6 caused fetal resorption, microphthalmia, pre-implant loss, and mild maternal toxicity. Administration of an intravenous dose of 0.10 mg/kg/day (about half the 1.5 mg/m2 clinical dose based on BSA) given to rats on Days 6 through 17 of gestation caused an increase in post-implantation mortality. This dose also caused an increase in total fetal malformations. The most frequent malformations were of the eye (microphthalmia, anophthalmia, rosette formation of the retina, coloboma of the retina, ectopic orbit), brain (dilated lateral and third ventricles), skull, and vertebrae.
8.2 Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of topotecan or its metabolites in human milk or their effects on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Lactating rats excrete high concentrations of topotecan in milk (see Data). Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with Topotecan Injection and for 1 week after the last dose.
8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential
Pregnancy Testing
Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating Topotecan Injection [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].
Contraception
Topotecan can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].
Females
Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Topotecan Injection and for 6 months after the last dose.
Males
Topotecan may damage spermatozoa, resulting in possible genetic and fetal abnormalities. Advise males with a female partner of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Topotecan Injection and for 3 months after the last dose [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].
Infertility
Females
Topotecan may have both acute and long-term effects on fertility [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].
Males
Effects on spermatogenesis occurred in animals administered topotecan [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].
8.5 Geriatric Use
Of the 879 patients with SCLC or another solid tumor who received topotecan in clinical trials, 32% were aged 65 years and older, while 3.8% were aged 75 years and older. No overall differences in effectiveness or safety were observed between these patients and younger patients and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients.
8.6 Renal Impairment
Reduce the dose of Topotecan Injection for patients with a CLcr of 20 to 39 mL/min [see Dosage and Administration (2.4), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. No dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with CLcr greater than or equal to 40 mL/min. Insufficient data are available in patients with CLcr less than 20 mL/min to provide a dosage recommendation for Topotecan Injection.