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Chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer: IV cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil[1]

Chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer: IV cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil[1]
Cycle length: 28 days.
Total cycles: 6.
Drug Dose and route Administration Given on days
Cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 IV Dilute with 250 mL NS or D5W* and administer over 30 to 60 minutes. Days 1 and 8
Methotrexate 40 mg/m2 IV Drug is available in a 25 mg/mL solution that needs no further dilution. It can be administered as a slow IV push. Days 1 and 8
Fluorouracil (FU) 600 mg/m2 IV Drug is available in a 50 mg/mL solution that needs no further dilution prior to administration as IV push. Days 1 and 8
Pretreatment considerations:
Hydration
  • Patients receiving cyclophosphamide should maintain adequate oral hydration (2 to 3 L/day) and void frequently to reduce risk of hemorrhagic cystitis.[2]
  • Refer to UpToDate topics on hemorrhagic cystitis in cancer patients.
Emesis risk
  • MODERATE (30 to 90% frequency of emesis).
  • Refer to UpToDate topics on prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adults.
Prophylaxis for infusion reactions
  • No specific premedication regimen is indicated.
Infection prophylaxis
  • Primary prophylaxis with G-CSF is not indicated.[1]
  • Refer to UpToDate topics on use of granulocyte colony stimulating factors in adult patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and conditions other than acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Dose adjustment for baseline liver or kidney dysfunction
  • Lower starting dose of methotrexate may be needed in patients with kidney impairment and in those with third space fluid collections (eg, ascites, pleural effusion).[3] Methotrexate should not be administered in the setting of severe liver impairment (total bilirubin >4 × ULN).[4] A lower starting dose of FU may be needed for patients with liver impairment. A lower starting dose of cyclophosphamide may be needed in patients with kidney impairment.
  • Refer to UpToDate topics on chemotherapy nephrotoxicity and dose modification in patients with kidney insufficiency, conventional cytotoxic agents; chemotherapy hepatotoxicity and dose modification in patients with liver disease, conventional cytotoxic agents; and chemotherapy hepatotoxicity and dose modification in patients with liver disease, molecularly targeted agents.
Monitoring parameters:
  • Assess CBC with differential on days 1 and 8 of each treatment cycle.
  • Assess serum electrolytes and liver and kidney function tests on or prior to day 1.
  • Monitor for diarrhea and cutaneous toxicity (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesias).
Suggested dose modifications for toxicity:
Myelotoxicity
  • If the ANC ≤1500/microL or platelets ≤100,000/microL on day 1 and day 8 of each cycle, therapy should be delayed until counts recover.
Dose adjustment for diarrhea
  • Withhold FU for grade 2 or worse diarrhea and restart at a lower dose after complete resolution.
  • NOTE: Severe diarrhea and mucositis after FU should prompt evaluation for DPD deficiency.
  • Refer to UpToDate topics on enterotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents.
Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia
  • Hold FU for grade 2 or greater palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, and reduce subsequent dose by 20%.[1]
  • Refer to UpToDate topics on cutaneous complications of conventional chemotherapy agents.
Neurologic toxicity
  • There is no recommended dose for resumption of FU administration following development of hyperammonemic encephalopathy, acute cerebellar syndrome, confusion, disorientation, ataxia, or visual disturbances; the drug should be permanently discontinued.[5]
Cardiotoxicity
  • Cardiotoxicity observed with FU includes myocardial infarction/ischemia, angina, dysrhythmias, cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, sudden death, ECG changes, and cardiomyopathy. There is no recommended dose for resumption of FU administration following development of cardiac toxicity, and the drug should be discontinued.[5]
If there is a change in body weight of at least 10%, doses should be recalculated.
This table is provided as an example of how to administer this regimen; there may be other acceptable methods. This regimen must be administered by a clinician trained in the use of chemotherapy, who should use independent medical judgment in the context of individual circumstances to make adjustments, as necessary.

ANC: absolute neutrophil count; CBC: complete blood count; DPD: dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase; D5W: 5% dextrose in water; ECG: electrocardiogram; G-CSF: granulocyte-colony stimulating factor; IV: intravenous; NS: normal saline; ULN: upper limit of normal.

* Diluent solutions should not be modified without consulting a detailed reference due to potential incompatibility(ies).

References:
  1. Jakesz R, Hausmaninger H, Kubista E, et al. Randomized adjuvant trial of tamoxifen and goserelin versus cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil: Evidence for the superiority of treatment with endocrine blockade in premenopausal patients with hormone-responsive breast cancer--Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer study group trial 5. J Clin Oncol 2002; 20:4621.
  2. Cyclophosphamide injection. United States Prescribing Information. US National Library of Medicine. (Available online at dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, accessed on May 9, 2019).
  3. Methotrexate injection. United States Prescribing Information. US National Library of Medicine. (Available online at dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, accessed on May 9, 2019).
  4. Methotrexate. Cancer Care Ontario Drug Formulary. (Available online at http://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/drugformulary/drugs/monograph/44166, accessed September 26, 2019).
  5. Fluorouracil injection. United States Prescribing Information. US National Library of Medicine. (Available online at dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, accessed on May 9, 2019).
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