MITOMYCIN 40 MG POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INJECTION/INFUSION - summary of medicine characteristics

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Mitomycin 40 mg, Powder for solution for injection/infusion

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each vial contains Mitomycin 40 mg. After reconstitution, 1 ml contains 0.5 mg of mitomycin.

For full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

PHARMACEUTICAL FORM Powder for solution for injection/infusion Blue-violet cake or powder.

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Mitomycin is used in palliative tumour therapy.

Mitomycin is administered intravenously as monochemotherapy or in combined cytostatic chemotherapy in the case of:

advanced metastatic gastric carcinoma

advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer

Furthermore mitomycin is administered intravenously in combined chemotherapy in the case of:

non-small cell bronchial carcinoma

advanced pancreatic carcinoma

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology

Mitomycin should only be used by doctors experienced in this therapy if there is a strict indication and with continual monitoring of the haematological parameters. It is essential that the injection is administered intravenous. If the medicinal product is injected perivasally, extensive necrosis occurs in the area concerned.

Unless otherwise prescribed, mitomycin is dosed as follows:

Intravenous administration

In cytostatic monochemotherapy mitomycin is usually administered intravenously as a bolus injection. The recommended dosage is 10 – 20 mg/m2 of body surface every 6 – 8 weeks, 8 – 12 mg/m2 of body surface every 3 – 4 weeks or 5–10 mg/m2 of body surface every 1–6 weeks, depending on the therapeutic scheme used.

A dose greater than 20 mg/m2 gives more toxic manifestations without therapeutic benefits. The maximum cumulative dose of mitomycin is 60 mg/m2.

In combination therapy the dosage is considerably lower. Because of the risk of additive myelotoxicity, proven treatment protocols may not be deviated from without a specific reason.

Special population

The dose must be reduced in patients who have undergone extensive previous cytostatic therapy, in case of myelosuppression or in elderly patients.

Older patients

Insufficient data from clinical studies are available concerning the use of mitomycin in patients >65 years of age.

The product should not be used in patients with renal impairment (see section 4.3)

The product is not recommended in patients with hepatic impairment due to lack efficacy and safety data in this group of patients.

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of mitomycin in children aged from 0 to 17 years have not been established.

Method of administration

Mitomycin is intended for intravenous injection or infusion after being dissolved.

Partial use is applicable.

For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

Mitomycin 40 mg powder for solution for injection/infusion may not be reconstituted in water, regardless the method of administration (i.e. intravenous)

Notes

Mitomycin must not be used in mixed injections.

Other injection solutions or infusion solutions must be administered separately.

It is essential that the injection is administered intravenous.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Breastfeeding (see section 4.6)

Systemic therapy

Pancytopenia or isolated leucopoenia/throm­bopenia, haemorrhagic diathesis and acute infections are absolute contraindications.

Restrictive or obstructive disturbances to pulmonary ventilation, renal function, liver function and/or a poor general state of health are relative contraindications. Temporal connection with radiotherapy or other cytostatic may be a further contraindication.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Due to the toxic effects on the bone marrow of mitomycin, other myelotoxic therapy modalities (in particular other cytostatics, radiation) must be administered with particular caution in order to minimise the risk of additive myelosuppression.

It is essential that the injection is administered intravenous. If the medicinal product is injected perivasally, extensive necrosis occurs in the area concerned. To avoid necrosis following recommendation­s apply:

Always inject into large veins in the arms.

Do not directly inject intravenously, but rather into the tube of a good and securely running infusion.

Before removing the cannula after central venous administration, flush it through for a few minutes using the infusion in order to release any residual mitomycin.

If extravasation occurs, it is recommended that the area is immediately infiltrated with sodium hydrogencarbonate 8.4% solution, followed by an injection of 4 mg dexamethasone. A systemic injection of 200 mg of Vitamin B6 may be of some value in promoting the regrowth of tissues that have been damaged.

Long-term therapy may result in cumulative bone marrow toxicity. Bone marrow suppression may only manifest itself after a delay, being expressed most strongly after 4 – 6 weeks, accumulating after prolonged use and therefore often requiring an individual dose adjustment.

Elderly patients often have reduced physiological function, bone marrow depression, which may be protracted, so administer mitomycin with special caution in this population while closely monitoring patient's con­dition.

Particular caution is required when possible occurrence or aggravation of infectious disease and bleeding tendency.

Mitomycin is a mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic substance in humans. Contact with the skin and mucous membranes is to be avoided.

In the case of pulmonary symptoms, which cannot be attributed to the underlying disease, therapy should be stopped immediately. Pulmonary toxicity can be well treated with steroids.

Therapy should be stopped immediately also if there are symptoms of haemolysis or indications of renal dysfunction (nephrotoxicity).

At doses of > 30 mg of mitomycin/m2 of body surface microangiopathic-haemolytic anaemia has been observed. Close monitoring of renal function is recommended.

New findings suggest a therapeutic trial may be appropriate for the removal of immune complexes that seem to play a significant role in the onset of symptoms by means of staphylococcal protein A.

Occurrence of acute leukaemia (in some cases following preleukaemic phase) and myelodysplastic syndrome has been reported in the patients treated concomitantly with other antineoplastic agents.

Immunisation with live virus vaccines (e.g. yellow fever vaccination) increases the risk of infection and other adverse reactions such as vaccinia gangrenosa and generalized vaccinia, in patients with reduced immunocompetence, such as during treatment with mitomycin. Therefore, live virus vaccines should not be administered during therapy. It is advised to use live virus vaccines with caution after stopping chemotherapy, and vaccinate not sooner than 3 months after the last dose of chemotherapy (see section 4.5).

Recommended check-ups and safety measures in the case of intravenous administration:

Before the start of treatment

Complete blood count

Pulmonary function test if pre-existing lung dysfunction is suspected

Renal function test in order to exclude renal insufficiency

Liver function test in order to exclude liver insufficiency

During therapy

Regular checks of the blood count

Close monitoring of renal function

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Myelotoxic interactions with other bone marrow-toxic treatment modalities (especially other cytotoxic medicinal products, radiation) are possible.

Combination with vinca alkaloids or bleomycin may reinforce pulmonary toxicity.

An increased risk of haemolytic-uremic syndrome has been reported in patients receiving a concomitant administration of mitomycin and fluorouracil or tamoxifen.

In animal experiments, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) resulted in the loss of effect of mitomycin.

No injections with live vaccines should be carried out in connection with mitomycin treatment (see section 4.4).

The cardiotoxicity of Adriamycin (doxorubicin) may be reinforced by mitomycin.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are no data from the use of mitomycin in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). Mitomycin has a mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effect and therefore may impair the development of an embryo. Mitomycin should not be used during pregnancy. In the case of a vital indication for the treatment of a pregnant patient a medical consultation should be carried out with respect to the risk of the harmful effects on the child, which are associated with the treatment.

Breastfeeding

It is suggested that mitomycin is excreted in breast milk. Due to its proven mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effects, mitomycin should not be administered during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding women must first discontinue breastfeeding before initiating treatment with mitomycin.

Fertility/ Contraception in males and females

Female patients of a sexually mature age should take contraceptive measures during and up to 6 months after the end of chemotherapy or refrain from sexual intercourse.

Mitomycin has a genetically harmful effect. Men who are being treated with mitomycin are therefore advised not to father a child during treatment and up to 6 months thereafter and to seek advice on the preservation of sperm before the start of therapy due to the possibility of irreversible infertility caused by the therapy with mitomycin.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Even when used in accordance with instructions these medicinal products may cause nausea and vomiting and thereby reduce reaction times to such an extent that the ability to drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery is impaired. This applies even more in connection with alcohol.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Undesirable effects are listed below by system organ class and frequency.

Frequencies below are defined as:

Very common (> 1/10), common (> 1/100 to < 1/10), uncommon (> 1/1,000 to < 1/100), rare (> 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000), very rare (< 1/10,000) or not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

Possible side-effects under systemic therapy

The most common side effects of mitomycin administered systemically are gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting and bone marrow suppression with leukopenia and mostly dominant thrombocytopenia. This bone marrow suppression occurs in up to 65% of patients.

In up to 10% of patients serious organ toxicity in the form of interstitial pneumonia or nephrotoxicity must be expected.

Mitomycin is potentially hepatotoxic.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

4.9 Overdose

5   PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antineoplastic agent, Other cytotoxic antibiotics

ATC Code: L01DC03

The antibiotic mitomycin is a cytostatic medicinal product from the group of alkylating agents.

Mitomycin is an antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces caespitosus with antineoplastic effect. It is present in an inactive form. Activation to a trifunctional alkylating agent is rapid, either at physiological pH in the presence of NADPH in serum or intracellularly in virtually all cells of the body with the exception of the cerebrum, as the blood-brain barrier is not overcome by mitomycin. The 3 alkylating radicals all stem from a quinone, an aziridine and a urethane group. The mechanism of action is based predominantly on the alkylation of DNA (RNA to a lesser extent) with the corresponding inhibition of DNA synthesis. The degree of DNA damage correlates with the clinical effect and is lower in resistant cells than in sensitive ones. As with other alkylating agents, proliferating cells are damaged to a greater extent than those that are in the resting phase (GO) of the cell cycle. Additionally, free peroxide radicals are released, particularly in the case of higher doses, which result in DNA breaks. The release of peroxide radicals is associated with the organ-specific pattern of side-effects.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

After the intravenous administration of 10 – 20 mg/m2 of mitomycin, maximum plasma levels of 0.4 – 3.2 ^g/ml have been measured. The biological half-life is short and is between 40 and 50 minutes. The serum level falls biexponentially, steeply at first within the first 45 minutes, and then more slowly.

After approximately 3 hours the serum levels are usually below the detection limit. The main location for metabolism and elimination is the liver. Accordingly, high concentrations of mitomycin have been found in the gall bladder. Renal excretion plays only a minor role with respect to the elimination.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

In animals, mitomycin is toxic to all proliferating tissues, particularly the cells of the bone marrow and the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in the inhibition of spermiogenesis.

Mitomycin has mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects which can be demonstrated in corresponding experimental systems.

Local tolerance

Mitomycin causes severe necrosis in the case of paravenous injection or leakage from the blood vessel into surrounding tissue.

6.1

Mannitol (E421)

6.2 Incompatibilities

This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.

6.3

Unopened vial: 3 years

The reconstituted product should be used immediately.

The contents of the vials are intended for single use only. Unused solutions must be discarded.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

For storage conditions after reconstitution of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Mitomycin is contained within 100 ml amber colored type I glass vial with a bromo butyl rubber stopper and a royal blue aluminium seal.

The 40 mg vial is packaged into cartons containing 1 or 5 vials.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal

Mitomycin 40 mg powder for solution for injection/infusion may not be reconstituted in water.

The contents of the 40 mg vial should be reconstituted with 80 ml saline or 20% glucose solution.

The contents of the 40 mg vial cannot be reconstituted to a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Other products should be used if this concentration is needed.

Pregnant healthcare personnel should not handle and/or administer drug product. Mitomycin should not be allowed to come into contact with the skin. If it does, it should be washed several times with 8.4% sodium hydrogencarbonate solution, followed by soap and water. Hand creams and emollients should not be used as they may assist the penetration of the drug into the epidermal tissue.

In the event of contact with the eye, it should be rinsed several times with saline solution. It should then be observed for several days for evidence of corneal damage. If necessary, appropriate treatment should be instituted.

The reconstituted solution is clear blue-violet colour free from visible particulate matter.

Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.