2.1 Recommended Dosage

Pre-Medications and Baseline Testing

• Consider pre-medicating for nausea with antiemetics.

• Conduct baseline laboratory testing: complete blood count (CBC) with platelets, serum hepatic panel, and serum creatinine.

Decitabine for Injection Regimen Options

Three Day Regimen

Administer decitabine for injection at a dose of 15 mg/m2 by continuous intravenous infusion over 3 hours repeated every 8 hours for 3 days. Repeat cycles every 6 weeks upon hematologic recovery (ANC at least 1,000/μL and platelets at least 50,000/μL) for a minimum of 4 cycles. . A complete or partial response may take longer than 4 cycles. Delay and reduce dose for hematologic toxicity [ see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

Five Day Regimen

Administer decitabine for injection at a dose of 20 mg/m2 by continuous intravenous infusion over 1 hour daily for 5 days. Delay and reduce dose for hematologic toxicity [ see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Repeat cycles every 4 weeks upon hematologic recovery (ANC at least 1,000/μL and platelets at least 50,000/μL) for a minimum of 4 cycles. A complete or partial response may take longer than 4 cycles.

Patients with Renal or Severe Hepatic Impairment

Treatment with decitabine for injection has not been studied in patients with pre-existing renal or hepatic impairment. For patients with pre-existing renal or hepatic impairment, consider the potential risks and benefits before initiating treatment with decitabine for injection.

2.2 Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions

Hematologic Toxicity

If hematologic recovery from a previous decitabine for injection treatment cycle requires more than 6 weeks, delay the next cycle of decitabine for injection therapy and reduce decitabine for injection dose temporarily by following this algorithm:

• Recovery requiring more than 6, but less than 8 weeks: delay decitabine for injection dosing for up to 2 weeks and reduce the dose temporarily to 11 mg/m2 every 8 hours (33 mg/m2/day, 99 mg/m2/cycle) upon restarting therapy.

• Recovery requiring more than 8, but less than 10 weeks: Perform bone marrow aspirate to assess for disease progression. In the absence of progression, delay decitabine for injection dosing for up to 2 more weeks and reduce the dose to 11 mg/m2 every 8 hours (33 mg/m2/day, 99 mg/m2/cycle) upon restarting therapy, then maintain or increase dose in subsequent cycles as clinically indicated.

Non-Hematologic Toxicity

Delay subsequent decitabine for injection treatment for any the following nonhematologic toxicities and do not restart until toxicities resolve:

• Serum creatinine greater than or equal to 2 mg/dL

• Alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin greater than or equal to 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Active or uncontrolled infection

2.3 Preparation and Administration

Decitabine for injection is a cytotoxic drug. Follow special handling and disposal procedures.1 

Aseptically reconstitute decitabine for injection with room temperature (20°C to 25°C) 10 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP. Upon reconstitution, the final concentration of the reconstituted decitabine for injection solution is 5 mg/mL. You must dilute the reconstituted solution with 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection or 5% Dextrose Injection prior to administration. Temperature of the diluent (0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection or 5% Dextrose Injection) depends on time of administration after preparation.

For Administration Within 15 Minutes of Preparation

If decitabine for injection is intended to be administered within 15 minutes from the time of preparation, dilute the reconstituted solution with room temperature (20°C to 25°C) 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection or 5% Dextrose Injection to a final concentration of 0.1 mg/mL to 1 mg/mL.  Discard unused portion.

For Delayed Administration

If decitabine for injection is intended to be administered after 15 minutes of preparation, dilute the reconstituted solution with cold (2°C to 8°C) 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection or 5% Dextrose Injection to a final concentration of 0.1 mg/mL to 1 mg/mL. Store at 2°C to 8°C for up to 4 hours. Diluted stored solution must be used within 4 hours from the time of preparation.  Discard unused portion.



Use the diluted, refrigerated solution within 4 hours from the time of preparation or discard.



Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Do not use if there is evidence of particulate matter or discoloration.

5.1 Myelosuppression 

Fatal and serious myelosuppression occurs in decitabine-treated patients. Myelosuppression (anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia) is the most frequent cause of decitabine dose reduction, delay, and discontinuation. Neutropenia of any grade occurred in 90% of decitabine-treated patients with grade 3 or 4 occurring in 87% of patients. Grade 3 or 4 febrile neutropenia occurred in 23% of patients. Thrombocytopenia of any grade occurred in 89% of patients with grade 3 or 4 occurring in 85% of patients. Anemia of any grade occurred in 82% of patients. Perform complete blood count with platelets at baseline, prior to each cycle, and as needed to monitor response and toxicity. Manage toxicity using dose-delay, dose-reduction, growth factors, and anti-infective therapies as needed [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Myelosuppression and worsening neutropenia may occur more frequently in the first or second treatment cycles and may not necessarily indicate progression of underlying MDS.

5.2 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

Based on findings from human data, animal studies and its mechanism of action, decitabine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) and Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)]. In preclinical studies in mice and rats, decitabine caused adverse developmental outcomes including embryo-fetal lethality and malformations. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception while receiving decitabine and for 6 months following the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception while receiving treatment with decitabine and for 3 months following the last dose [ see Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3)].

6.1 Clinical Trails Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The safety of decitabine was studied in 3 single-arm studies (N = 66, N = 98, N = 99) and 1 controlled supportive care study (N = 83 decitabine, N = 81 supportive care). The data described below reflect exposure to decitabine in 83 patients in the MDS trial. In the trial, patients received 15 mg/m2 intravenously every 8 hours for 3 days every 6 weeks. The median number of decitabine cycles was 3 (range 0 to 9).

Most Common Adverse Reactions: neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, fatigue, pyrexia, nausea, cough, petechiae, constipation, diarrhea, and hyperglycemia.

Adverse Reactions Most Frequently (≥1%) Resulting in Clinical Intervention and or Dose Modification in the Controlled Supportive Care Study in the Decitabine Arm :

• Discontinuation: thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, pneumonia, Mycobacterium avium complex infection, cardio-respiratory arrest, increased blood bilirubin, intracranial hemorrhage, abnormal liver function tests.
• Dose Delayed:  neutropenia, pulmonary edema, atrial fibrillation, central line infection, febrile neutropenia.
• Dose Reduced: neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, lethargy, edema, tachycardia, depression, pharyngitis.

Table 1 presents all adverse reactions occurring in at least 5% of patients in the decitabine group and at a rate greater than supportive care.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of decitabine. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

• Sweet’s syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis)
• Differentiation syndrome
• Interstitial lung disease
  
  
  
  

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Based on findings from human data, animal studies, and the mechanism of action, decitabine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) and Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)]. Limited published data on decitabine use throughout the first trimester during pregnancy describe adverse developmental outcomes including major birth defects (structural abnormalities). In animal reproduction studies, administration of decitabine to pregnant mice and rats during organogenesis caused adverse developmental outcomes including malformations and embryo-fetal lethality starting at doses approximately 7% of the recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the U.S. general population is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies, respectively.

Data

Human Data

A single published case report of decitabine pregnancy exposure in a 39-year old woman with a hematologic malignancy described multiple structural abnormalities after 6 cycles of therapy in the 18th week of gestation. These abnormalities included holoprosencephaly, absence of nasal bone, mid-facial deformity, cleft lip and palate, polydactyly and rocker-bottom feet. The pregnancy was terminated.

Animal Data

In utero exposure to decitabine causes temporal related defects in the rat and/or mouse, which include growth suppression, exencephaly, defective skull bones, rib/sternabrae defects, phocomelia, digit defects, micrognathia, gastroschisis, micromelia. Decitabine inhibits proliferation and increases apoptosis of neural progenitor cells of the fetal CNS and induces palatal clefting in the developing murine fetus. Studies in mice have also shown that decitabine administration during osteoblastogenesis (day 10 of gestation) induces bone loss in offspring.

In mice exposed to single IP (intraperitoneal) injections (0, 0.9 and 3.0 mg/m2, approximately 2% and 7% of the recommended daily clinical dose, respectively) over gestation days 8, 9, 10 or 11, no maternal toxicity was observed but reduced fetal survival was observed after treatment at 3 mg/m2 and decreased fetal weight was observed at both dose levels. The 3 mg/m2 dose elicited characteristic fetal defects for each treatment day, including supernumerary ribs (both dose levels), fused vertebrae and ribs, cleft palate, vertebral defects, hind-limb defects and digital defects of fore- and hind-limbs.

In rats given a single IP injection of 2.4, 3.6 or 6 mg/m2 (approximately 5%, 8%, or 13% the daily recommended clinical dose, respectively) on gestation days 9-12, no maternal toxicity was observed. No live fetuses were seen at any dose when decitabine was injected on gestation day 9. A significant decrease in fetal survival and reduced fetal weight at doses greater than 3.6 mg/m2 was seen when decitabine was given on gestation day 10. Increased incidences of vertebral and rib anomalies were seen at all dose levels, and induction of exophthalmia, exencephaly, and cleft palate were observed at 6.0 mg/m2. Increased incidence of foredigit defects was seen in fetuses at doses greater than 3.6 mg/m2. Reduced size and ossification of long bones of the fore-limb and hind-limb were noted at 6.0 mg/m2.

The effect of decitabine on postnatal development and reproductive capacity was evaluated in mice administered a single 3 mg/m2 IP injection (approximately 7% the recommended daily clinical dose) on day 10 of gestation. Body weights of males and females exposed in utero to decitabine were significantly reduced relative to controls at all postnatal time points. No consistent effect on fertility was seen when female mice exposed in utero were mated to untreated males. Untreated females mated to males exposed in utero showed decreased fertility at 3 and 5 months of age (36% and 0% pregnancy rate, respectively). Follow up studies indicated that treatment of pregnant mice with decitabine on gestation day 10 was associated with a reduced pregnancy rate resulting from effects on sperm production in the F1-generation.

8.2 Lactation

Risk Summary

There are no data on the presence of decitabine or its metabolites in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from decitabine in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed while receiving decitabine and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose.

8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential

Pregnancy Testing

Conduct pregnancy testing of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating decitabine.

Contraception

Females

Decitabine can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception while receiving decitabine and for 6 months following the last dose.

Males

Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception while receiving treatment with decitabine and for 3 months following the last dose [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

Infertility

Based on findings of decitabine in animals, male fertility may be compromised by treatment with decitabine. The reversibility of the effect on fertility is unknown [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

8.4 Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of decitabine in pediatric patients have not been established.

8.5 Geriatric Use

Of the total number of patients exposed to decitabine in the controlled clinical trial, 61 of 83 patients were age 65 years and over, while 21 of 83 patients were age 75 years and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

Decitabine is soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide; sparingly soluble in water; slightly soluble in ethanol and water (50:50), in methanol and water (50:50), and in methanol.

Decitabine for injection, for intravenous use, is a sterile, white to almost white lyophilized cake or powder supplied in a clear colorless glass single-dose vial. Each 20 mL vial contains 50 mg decitabine, 68 mg monobasic potassium phosphate (potassium dihydrogen phosphate) and 11.6 mg sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is used for pH adjustment.

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Decitabine is believed to exert its antineoplastic effects after phosphorylation and direct incorporation into DNA and inhibition of DNA methyltransferase, causing hypomethylation of DNA and cellular differentiation or apoptosis. Decitabine inhibits DNA methylation in vitro, which is achieved at concentrations that do not cause major suppression of DNA synthesis. Decitabine-induced hypomethylation in neoplastic cells may restore normal function to genes that are critical for the control of cellular differentiation and proliferation. In rapidly dividing cells, the cytotoxicity of decitabine may also be attributed to the formation of covalent adducts between DNA methyltransferase and decitabine incorporated into DNA. Non-proliferating cells are relatively insensitive to decitabine

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

Decitabine has been shown to induce hypomethylation both in vitro and in vivo. However, there have been no studies of decitabine-induced hypomethylation and pharmacokinetic parameters.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were evaluated in patients. Eleven patients received 20 mg/m2 infused over 1 hour intravenously (treatment Option 2). Fourteen patients received 15 mg/m2 infused over 3 hours intravenously (treatment Option 1). PK parameters are shown in Table 3. Plasma concentration-time profiles after discontinuation of infusion showed a biexponential decline. The clearance (CL) of decitabine was higher following treatment Option 2. Upon repeat doses, there was no systemic accumulation of decitabine or any changes in PK parameters. Population PK analysis (N=35) showed that the cumulative AUC per cycle for treatment Option 2 was 2.3-fold lower than the cumulative AUC per cycle following treatment Option 1.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis and Impairment of Fertility

Carcinogenicity studies with decitabine have not been conducted.

The mutagenic potential of decitabine was tested in several in vitro and invivo systems. Decitabine increased mutation frequency in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells, and mutations were produced in an Escherichia coli lac-I transgene in colonic DNA of decitabine-treated mice. Decitabine caused chromosomal rearrangements in larvae of fruit flies.

In male mice given IP injections of 0.15, 0.3 or 0.45 mg/m2 decitabine (approximately 0.3% to 1% the recommended clinical dose) 3 times a week  for 7 weeks, decitabine did not affect survival, body weight gain or hematological measures (hemoglobin and white blood cell counts). Testes weights were reduced, abnormal histology was observed and significant decreases in sperm number were found at doses ≥ 0.3 mg/m2. In females mated to males dosed with ≥ 0.3 mg/m2 decitabine, pregnancy rate was reduced and preimplantation loss was significantly increased.

14.1 Controlled Trial in Myelodysplastic Syndrome

A randomized open-label, multicenter, controlled trial evaluated 170 adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) meeting French-American-British (FAB) classification criteria and International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) High-Risk, Intermediate-2 and Intermediate-1 prognostic scores. Eighty-nine patients were randomized to decitabine therapy plus supportive care (only 83 received decitabine), and 81 to Supportive Care (SC) alone. Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) were not intended to be included. Of the 170 patients included in the study, independent review (adjudicated diagnosis) found that 12 patients (9 in the decitabine arm and 3 in the SC arm) had the diagnosis of AML at baseline. Baseline demographics and other patient characteristics in the Intent-to-Treat (ITT) population were similar between the 2 groups, as shown in Table 4.

 Table 4 Baseline Demographics and Other Patient Characteristics (ITT)

Patients randomized to the decitabine arm received decitabine intravenously infused at a dose of 15 mg/m2 over a 3-hour period, every 8 hours, for 3 consecutive days. This cycle was repeated every 6 weeks, depending on the patient’s clinical response and toxicity. Supportive care consisted of blood and blood product transfusions, prophylactic antibiotics, and hematopoietic growth factors. The study endpoints were overall response rate (complete response + partial response) and time to AML or death. Responses were classified using the MDS International Working Group (IWG) criteria; patients were required to be RBC and platelet transfusion independent during the time of response.  Response criteria are given in Table 5.

14.2 Single-arm Studies  in Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Three open-label, single-arm, multicenter studies were conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of decitabine in MDS patients with any of the FAB subtypes. In one study conducted in North America, 99 patients with IPSS Intermediate-1, Intermediate-2, or high-risk prognostic scores received decitabine 20 mg/m2  as an intravenous infusion over 1-hour daily, on days 1-5 of week 1, every 4 weeks (1 cycle). The results were consistent with the results of the controlled trial and are summarized in Table 8.

Table 7 Baseline Demographics and Other Patient Characteristics (ITT)

Table 8 Analysis of Response (ITT)*

* Cheson BD, Bennett JM, et al. Report of an International Working Group to Standardize Response Criteria for MDS. Blood. 2000; 96:3671-3674.

† indicates censored observation