Introduction
Carboplat is used in the treatment of ovarian cancer and small cell lung cancer. It shows its working by stopping or slowing down the growth of cancer cells.
Carboplat is given as an injection into veins under the supervision of a doctor. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and increased liver enzyme are some common side effects of this medicine. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells (decrease red blood and white blood cells) in your blood, thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections or bleeding. Inform your doctor if you notice fever, sore throat, chills, unusual bleeding or bruising, and dark urine. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with heart, liver, and blood uric acid levels.
You must inform your doctor if you experience allergic reactions with injection such as skin rash, itching, and trouble breathing. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
Uses of Carboplat
- Ovarian cancer
- Small cell lung cancer
Side effects of Carboplat
Common
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
- Fatigue
- Low blood platelets
- Increased liver enzymes
- Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils)
- Stomatitis (Inflammation of the mouth)
- Peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness of feet and hand)
- Diarrhea
How to use Carboplat
Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.
How Carboplat works
Carboplat is an anti-cancer medication. It works by damaging the genetic material (DNA and RNA) of the cancer cells which stops their growth and multiplication.
What if you forget to take Carboplat?
If you miss a dose of Carboplat, please consult your doctor.
Indication
Ovarian carcinoma, Lung cancer
Administration
IV Preparation
Single-dose lyophilized powder (reconstitution require)
Reconstitute powder with sterile water for injection, D5W, or 0.9% NaCl to yield a final concentration of 10 mg/mL
Can be further diluted to concentrations as low as 0.5 mg/mL with D5W or 0.9% NaCl
Multidose premixed injectable solution
Available as a 10 mg/mL aqueous solution
Can be further diluted to concentrations as low as 0.5 mg/mL with D5W or 0.9% NaCl
IV Administration
Administer IV over 15 min or continuous IV infusion over 24 hr
May also be administered intraperitoneally
When administered as sequential infusions, taxane derivatives (docetaxel, paclitaxel) should be administered before platinum derivatives to limit myelosuppression and to enhance efficacy
Do not use aluminum-containing needles or IV administration sets that may come in contact with carboplatin (aluminum can cause precipitate formation and loss of potency)
Adult Dose
Intravenous
Small cell lung cancer; Advanced ovarian carcinoma
Adult: IV As single agent in treatment-naive patients: 400 mg/m2;
As single agent in previously treated patients: 360 mg/m2; W/ cyclophosphamide in treatment-naive patients: 300 mg/m2.
Doses to be given not more frequently than every 4 wk. Adjust subsequent doses based on nadir of WBC and platelet counts.
Hepatic Impairment
Dose adjustment may not be necessary; not studied
Child Dose
Solid tumor
300-600 mg/m² IV q4Weeks
Sarcoma (bone/soft tissue)
400 mg/m²/day for 2 days every 21 days
Brain tumor
175 mg/m² qWeek x 4 weeks with a 2 weeks recovery period between courses
Bone marrow transplant preparative regimen
500 mg/m²/day x 3 days
Retinoblastoma
1-2 mL subconjunctival injection of 10 mg/mL solution per dose
Renal Dose
Renal impairment:
CrCl (ml/min)
>40 Recommended dose: 400 mg/m2.
20-39 Recommended dose: 250 mg/m2.
Contraindication
Previous allergy; pregnancy, lactation; allergy to other platinum compounds; severe bone marrow depression; significant bleeding, aluminium containing needles and IV sets.
Mode of Action
Carboplatin is an alkylating agent which binds covalently to DNA. It modifies the cell cycle by interfering with DNA structure and function.
Precaution
Neonates; diminished renal function; neurotoxicity; liver function impairment.
Lactation: not known if excreted in breast milk; do not nurse
Side Effect
>10%
Leukopenia (26-97%),Neutropenia (21-96%),Nausea (81-93%),Vomiting (81-93%),Anemia (14-90%),Magnesium loss (43-61%),Thrombocytopenia (33-66%),Alopecia (2-49%),Asthenia (11-41%),Elevated alkaline phosphatase (29-37%),Central neurotoxicity (5-26%),Elevated AST (19-20%),Peripheral neuropathy (6-15%)
1-10%
Immune hypersensitivity reaction (2-9.2%),Elevated bilirubin (5%)
Frequency Not Defined
Visual disturbance (rare)
Potentially Fatal: Bone marrow suppression and anaphylactic reactions.
Pregnancy Category Note
Pregnancy Category: D
Lactation: not known if excreted in breast milk; do not nurse
Interaction
Increased risk of ototoxicity when used with aminoglycosides.