Cytarabine liposomal formulation

Two standard dosage schedules are recommended for administration of cytarabine ( cytosar-u, TARABINE PFS, Others) (1) rapid intravenous infusion of 100 mg/nf every 12 hours for 5—7 days or (2) continuous intravenous infusion of 100 to 200 mg/nP daily for 5-7 days. In general, children tolerate higher doses than do adults. Intrathecal doses of 30 mg/m every 4 days have been used to treat meningeal leukemia. The intrathecal administration of 50-70 mg of the liposomal formulation of cytarabine (depocyt) every 2 weeks seems to be equally effective as the every-4-day regimen. Conventional cytarabine is indicated for induction and maintenance of remission in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and is useful in the treatment of other leukemias, such as ALL AML, and CML in the blast phase. Intrathecal cytarabine is indicated for meningeal leukemia. 

The recommended dosage for idarubicin (IDAMYCIN) is 12 mg/m daily for 3 days by intravenous injection in combination with cytarabine. Daunorubicin (daunomycin, rubidomycin CERUBIDINE, others) is available for intravenous use. The recommended dosage is 30-60 mg/rn daily for 3 days. Total doses of >1000 mg/nP are associated with a high risk of cardiotoxicity. A liposomal formulation of daunorubicin citrate (daunoxome) is indicated for the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi s sarcoma. It is given in a dose of 40 mg/m infused over 60 minutes and repeated every 2 weeks. Patients should be advised that the drug may impart a red color to the urine. Daunorubicin is primarily used in the treatment of AML in combination with Ara-C and has largely been replaced by idarubicin. 

Gemcitabine is indicated in the treatment of breast, pancreatic, and nonsmall cell lung cancers. Cytarabine, which can be administered subcutaneously and intrathecally in addition to IV, is used in the treatment of various leukemias. A liposomal formulation of cytarabine is available for the treatment of lymphomatous meningitis. 

Liposomal cytarabine (Depocyt) Special formulated nucleoside Lymphomatous meningitis Phase II cytologic response... 

DepoCyt (Pacira Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA) is a slow release liposome-encapsulated cytarabine formulation, recently approved for intrathecal administration in the treatment of neoplastic meningitis and lymphomatous meningitis (30-32). The Depo-Foam platform used in DepoCyt , is essentially a spherical 20-pm multi-lamellar matrix comprised of phospholipids/ lipid mixture, similar to normal human cell membranes (phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesterol) (33). 

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