Trabectedin
About Trabectedin
Trabectedin is a prescription chemotherapy medicine given as an infusion into a vein. It is medically used to treat advanced soft tissue cancers, such as liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma, that have spread or cannot be removed by surgery. It is also used in combination with other medicines to treat advanced ovarian cancer that has returned after previous treatments.
Because this medicine is given as an intravenous infusion by a healthcare professional, the treatment is carefully scheduled in cycles, typically every 3 weeks. You do not need to worry about taking it with food, but staying well-hydrated and eating small, frequent meals can help manage treatment-related nausea and support your body during therapy.
Common side effects of this treatment include extreme tiredness, nausea, headache, and temporary changes in liver blood tests. However, you must contact your healthcare team immediately if you experience signs of infection (such as a fever), unusual bruising, severe muscle pain, or yellowing of your skin or eyes, as these could indicate more serious complications.
Do not take this if you have a severe active infection, severe liver disease, or if you are currently breastfeeding. Before starting this medicine, tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, kidney issues, or liver problems so they can determine if this treatment is safe for you.
This medicine can interact with several other drugs, including certain antibiotics, antifungals, and herbal supplements like St. John's Wort, which can alter how your body processes the treatment. Avoid drinking alcohol during your treatment cycle to prevent putting extra strain on your liver, and talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are an older adult.
Uses of Trabectedin
Medicinal Benefits
Trabectedin helps slow down the growth and spread of cancer cells, supporting disease management and helping to improve quality of life. The benefits of Trabectedin are as follows:
- Helps Shrink or Stabilise Tumours: By directly interfering with the genetic material of rapidly dividing cancer cells, Trabectedin helps shrink or stabilise tumours. This provides valuable time and manages cancer-related symptoms like pain or localised discomfort, helping you feel more comfortable during your treatment course.
- Supports Disease Control: For patients with advanced soft tissue cancers who have already undergone standard chemotherapy, this treatment provides a clinically proven option to keep the disease under control. It offers a vital path forward when other standard treatments have stopped working.
- Enhances Combination Therapy: When used in combination with other cancer medicines, it works synergistically to enhance the overall effectiveness of the treatment. This collaborative action helps prolong the period during which the cancer does not progress, offering a supportive approach to managing advanced stages of the disease.
Directions for Use
- Typically, Trabectedin is administered once every 3 weeks for as long as your doctor recommends continuing the treatment. However, follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Trabectedin will be administered by a doctor or nurse in a healthcare facility.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Trabectedin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme tiredness or fatigue
- Loss of appetite and headache
- Constipation or mild diarrhoea
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)
- Signs of an infection, such as a fever, chills, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms
- Unusual bleeding, easy bruising, or tiny red spots on the skin
- Severe muscle pain, weakness, or dark-colored urine (signs of rhabdomyolysis, a rare but serious muscle tissue breakdown)
- Swelling in your legs, ankles, or hands, or sudden unexplained weight gain
- Yellowing of your eyes or skin, or dark urine, which may indicate liver damage
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Monitor the injection site: Tell your nurse immediately if you feel pain, burning, swelling, or redness at the injection site during the infusion, as this medicine can be harsh on veins if it leaks.
- Get routine blood tests: You will need frequent blood tests to check your liver enzymes, kidney function, and blood cell counts before starting each treatment cycle.
- Use reliable birth control and consider fertility: Both men and women should use highly effective birth control during treatment and for several months after the final dose. Because Trabectedin can impair fertility, discuss fertility preservation options with your oncologist before starting treatment.
- Take your pre-medicines: Always take the steroid medicines prescribed by your doctor exactly as directed before your infusion to help protect your liver and manage side effects.
Drug Interactions
- Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors: May interact with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (such as certain ketoconazole or clarithromycin), which can increase the level of Trabectedin in your body and raise the risk of side effects.
- Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: May interact with strong CYP3A4 inducers (such as rifampin or phenytoin), which can lower the amount of Trabectedin in your body, making it less effective.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption while on treatment with Trabectedin.
Pregnancy
unsafeTrabectedin should not be used during pregnancy because it can harm your fetus (newborn baby).
Breast Feeding
unsafeDo not breastfeed during this treatment because the medicine may pass into your milk. Doctors normally advise against breastfeeding throughout this treatment and for a certain period of time after the final medication is taken.
Driving
cautionTrabectedin may cause side effects such as tiredness and dizziness. Do not drive or use machines if you feel tired or dizzy.
Liver
cautionCaution should be exercised. Hepatotoxicity may occur. Monitor and delay and/or reduce dose if needed.
Kidney
cautionNo dose adjustment is recommended in patients with mild [creatinine clearance (CLcr) 60-89 mL/min] or moderate (CLcr of 30-59 mL/min) renal impairment. There is no information available on patients with severe kidney impairment.
Children
cautionTalk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay well-hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids (like water or clear broths) to help support your kidneys and flush the medicine through your system, especially on treatment days.
- Protect your liver: Avoid drinking alcohol and check with your pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter pain relievers to minimise strain on your liver.
- Eat small, nutrient-dense meals: To combat nausea and loss of appetite, focus on eating smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large ones. Include protein-rich foods to help maintain muscle strength.
- Practice strict infection prevention: Since this treatment temporarily lowers your white blood cell count, wash your hands frequently, avoid crowded places, and stay away from people who are sick.
- Prioritise rest: Fatigue is very common during this therapy. Listen to your body and schedule regular rest periods throughout the day.
Special Advise
- Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment with Trabectedin.
- Trabectedin should be taken under strict medical supervision. The doctor will regularly monitor your condition while taking Trabectedin.
- Your doctor may get routine blood tests done to monitor your liver function, electrolyte levels, and blood cell count in your blood.
- Peripheral blood counts should be frequently monitored during Trabectedin treatment and, when appropriate, until recovery is achieved.
- Do not donate sperm during treatment with Trabectedin and for three months after your last dose.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cancer: Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific body part grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes begins in one body part before spreading to other areas.
Ovarian cancer: Ovarian cancer is a cancer that begins in the female reproductive organs where the ovaries/eggs are formed. It often has no symptoms in the early stages. Later stages are associated with symptoms such as weight loss and loss of appetite.
Liposarcoma: Liposarcoma is a rare tumour derived from fat tissue that occurs in the “soft tissues” of the body (soft tissue sarcoma). It is classified as a cancer (malignant) because of its potential to recur locally and spread to other areas of the body. The severity of the disease depends on the subtype of the liposarcoma and the presenting stage of the primary tumour. It can arise in various locations throughout the body, although it is most frequently found in the extremities, particularly in the thigh.
FAQs
Trabectedin is used to treat Ovarian Cancer and Soft Tissue Sarcoma (Liposarcoma).
Trabectedin contains Trabectedin, which works by sticking to the DNA in cells and damaging it. This stops the cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
It is recommended not to be used in the population who are allergic to Trabectedin or any other ingredients in this medication, is a pregnant woman, has too low blood cell counts, or suffers from severe liver or hepatic impairment.
Yes, Trabectedin can cause low neutrophils levels, a type of white blood cells that help fight infections. Your doctor will monitor peripheral blood cell counts and adjust the dose as appropriate.
Trabectedin may cause permanent fertility problems in men if they take it. Please discuss this with their doctor before starting treatment.
This medicine is given as a slow intravenous infusion through a central line in a vein, administered by a trained healthcare professional in a hospital or clinic. Talk to your doctor for more details about your infusion plan.
Hair thinning or hair loss is possible but is less common with this medicine compared to some other chemotherapies. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are concerned about hair loss.
Steroid injections (such as dexamethasone) are given before your treatment to help protect your liver from damage and to prevent severe nausea and vomiting. Talk to your doctor about your pre-medicine routine.
This medicine can cause extreme tiredness, dizziness, or weakness. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how the treatment affects you. Talk to your doctor if you feel too fatigued to drive.
A fever can be a sign of a serious infection, which can be dangerous when your white blood cell count is low. Contact your healthcare team or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Talk to your doctor about infection safety.
Your doctor may delay a cycle or lower your dose if your routine blood tests show significantly low white blood cell or platelet counts, elevated liver enzymes, or reduced kidney function. These adjustments ensure your body has enough time to recover safely before your next dose.
The infusion itself can take anywhere from 3 to 24 hours, depending on the specific condition being treated, and is typically repeated every 3 weeks. Talk to your doctor to understand your specific schedule.
You should avoid receiving live vaccines during your treatment, as your immune system may be weakened. Always check with your healthcare provider before getting any vaccine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
No, this medicine can cause severe harm to an unborn baby. You must use effective birth control during treatment and for a specified time after your last dose. Talk to your doctor about safe family planning options.
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