Leukine (Sargramostim) Drug Information: Overdosage and Contraindications

Pill Identifier Search

May 27, 2012

Leukine

Cancer »

What is cancer?

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body. The abnormal cells are termed cancer cells, malignant cells, or tumor cells. Many cancers and the abnormal cells that compose the cancer tissue are further identified by the name of the tissue that the abnormal cells originated from (for example, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer). Cancer is not confined to humans; animals and other living organisms can get cancer. Below is a schematic that shows normal cell division and how when a cell is damaged or altered without repair to its system, the cell usually dies. Also shown is what can occur when such damaged or unrepaired cells do not die and become cancer cells and proliferate with uncontrolled growth; a mass of cancer cells develop. Frequently, cancer cells can break away from this original mass of cells, travel through the blood and lymph systems, and lodge in other organs where they can again repeat the ...

Read the Cancer article »

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Next »

Leukine User Reviews >>

Leukine

Breast Cancer Slideshow Pictures

Pancreatic Cancer Slideshow Pictures

Skin Cancer Slideshow Pictures

font size

OVERDOSE

The maximum amount of LEUKINE (sargramostim) that can be safely administered in single or multiple doses has not been determined. Doses up to 100 mcg/kg/day (4,000 mcg/m²/day or 16 times the recommended dose) were administered to four patients in a Phase I uncontrolled clinical study by continuous IV infusion for 7 to 18 days. Increases in WBC up to 200,000 cells/mm³ were observed. Adverse events reported were dyspnea, malaise, nausea, fever, rash, sinus tachycardia, headache and chills. All these events were reversible after discontinuation of LEUKINE (sargramostim) .

In case of overdosage, LEUKINE (sargramostim) therapy should be discontinued and the patient carefully monitored for WBC increase and respiratory symptoms.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

LEUKINE (sargramostim) is contraindicated:

in patients with excessive leukemic myeloid blasts in the bone marrow or peripheral blood ( ≥ 10%);
in patients with known hypersensitivity to GM-CSF, yeast derived products or any component of the product;
for concomitant use with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Due to the potential sensitivity of rapidly dividing hematopoietic progenitor cells, LEUKINE (sargramostim) should not be administered simultaneously with cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy or within 24 hours preceding or following chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In one controlled study, patients with small cell lung cancer received LEUKINE (sargramostim) and concurrent thoracic radiotherapy and chemotherapy or the identical radiotherapy and chemotherapy without LEUKINE (sargramostim) . The patients randomized to LEUKINE (sargramostim) had significantly higher incidence of adverse events, including higher mortality and a higher incidence of grade 3 and 4 infections and grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia.¹¹

REFERENCES

11. Bunn P, Crowley J, Kelly K, et al. Chemoradiotherapy with or without granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer: a prospective phase III randomized study of the southwest oncology group. JCO 1995; 13(7):1632-1641.

Last reviewed on RxList: 8/12/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.