(ex e MES tane)
Breast cancer: Treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose disease has progressed following tamoxifen therapy; adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive early breast cancer following 2-3 years of tamoxifen (for a total of 5 consecutive years of adjuvant therapy).
Known hypersensitivity to exemestane or any component of the formulation; women who are or may become pregnant; premenopausal women
Breast cancer, advanced: Postmenopausal females: Oral: 25 mg once daily; continue until tumor progression
Breast cancer, early (adjuvant treatment): Postmenopausal females: Oral: 25 mg once daily (following 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen therapy) for a total duration of 5 years of endocrine therapy (in the absence of recurrence or contralateral breast cancer). Note: The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines for Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy of Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer (Focused Update) recommend a maximum duration of 5 years of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy for postmenopausal women; AIs may be combined with tamoxifen for a total duration of up to 10 years of endocrine therapy. Refer to the guidelines for specific recommendations based on menopausal status and tolerability (Burstein 2014).
Breast cancer, early (first-line adjuvant treatment; off-label use): Postmenopausal females: Oral: 25 mg once daily for 5 years (Burstein 2010; van de Velde 2011). Note: ASCO guidelines for Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy of Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer (Focused Update) recommend a maximum duration of 5 years of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy for postmenopausal women; AIs may be combined with tamoxifen for a total duration of up to 10 years of endocrine therapy. Refer to the guidelines for specific recommendations based on menopausal status and tolerability (Burstein 2014).
Breast cancer, risk reduction (off-label use): Postmenopausal females ≥35 years: Oral: 25 mg once daily for 5 years (Goss 2011; Visvanathan 2013)
Dosage adjustment with strong CYP3A4 inducers: U.S. labeling: 50 mg once daily when used with potent inducers (eg, rifampin, phenytoin)
Refer to adult dosing.
No adjustment necessary (although the safety of chronic doses in patients with moderate-to-severe renal impairment has not been studied, dosage adjustment does not appear necessary).
No adjustment necessary (although the safety of chronic doses in patients with moderate-to-severe hepatic impairment has not been studied, dosage adjustment does not appear necessary).
Administer after a meal. Hazardous agent; use appropriate precautions for handling and disposal (NIOSH 2014 [group 1]).
Patients on aromatase inhibitor therapy should receive vitamin D and calcium supplements.
Store at 25 ‚ °C (77 ‚ °F); excursions permitted to 15 ‚ °C to 30 ‚ °C (59 ‚ °F to 86 ‚ °F).
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Tablet, Oral:
Aromasin: 25 mg
Generic: 25 mg
Bosentan: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
CYP3A4 Inducers (Moderate): May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong): May decrease the serum concentration of Exemestane. Management: Exemestane U.S. product labeling recommends using an increased dose (50 mg/day) in patients receiving concurrent strong CYP3A4 inducers. The Canadian product labeling does not recommend a dose adjustment with concurrent use of strong CYP3A4 inducers. Consider therapy modification
Dabrafenib: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Seek alternatives to the CYP3A4 substrate when possible. If concomitant therapy cannot be avoided, monitor clinical effects of the substrate closely (particularly therapeutic effects). Consider therapy modification
Deferasirox: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Enzalutamide: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Concurrent use of enzalutamide with CYP3A4 substrates that have a narrow therapeutic index should be avoided. Use of enzalutamide and any other CYP3A4 substrate should be performed with caution and close monitoring. Consider therapy modification
Estrogen Derivatives: May diminish the therapeutic effect of Exemestane. Avoid combination
Methadone: Aromatase Inhibitors may increase the serum concentration of Methadone. Monitor therapy
Mitotane: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Doses of CYP3A4 substrates may need to be adjusted substantially when used in patients being treated with mitotane. Consider therapy modification
Osimertinib: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Osimertinib may decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Siltuximab: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
St Johns Wort: May decrease the serum concentration of Exemestane. Management: Exemestane US product labeling recommends using an increased dose (50 mg/day) in patients receiving St Johns Wort or strong CYP3A4 inducers. The Canadian product labeling does not recommend a dose adjustment with this combination. Consider therapy modification
Tocilizumab: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
25-hydroxy vitamin D levels (at baseline); bone mineral density
>10%:
Cardiovascular: Hypertension (5% to 15%)
Central nervous system: Fatigue (8% to 22%), insomnia (11% to 14%), pain (13%), headache (7% to 13%), depression (6% to 13%)
Dermatological: Hyperhidrosis (4% to 18%), alopecia (15%)
Endocrine & metabolic: Hot flashes (13% to 33%)
Gastrointestinal: Nausea (9% to 18%), abdominal pain (6% to 11%)
Hepatic: Alkaline phosphatase increased (14% to 15%)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia (15% to 29%)
1% to 10%:
Cardiovascular: Edema (6% to 7%); cardiac ischemic events (2%: MI, angina, myocardial ischemia); chest pain
Central nervous system: Dizziness (8% to 10%), anxiety (4% to 10%), fever (5%), confusion, hypoesthesia
Dermatologic: Dermatitis (8%), itching, rash
Endocrine & metabolic: Weight gain (8%)
Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea (4% to 10%), vomiting (7%), anorexia (6%), constipation (5%), appetite increased (3%), dyspepsia
Genitourinary: Urinary tract infection (2% to 5%)
Hepatic: Bilirubin increased (5% to 7%)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Back pain (9%), limb pain (9%), myalgia (6%), osteoarthritis (6%), weakness (6%), osteoporosis (5%), pathological fracture (4%), paresthesia (3%), carpal tunnel syndrome (2%), cramps (2%)
Ocular: Visual disturbances (5%)
Renal: Creatinine increased (6%)
Respiratory: Dyspnea (10%), cough (6%), bronchitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, upper respiratory infection
Miscellaneous: Flu-like syndrome (6%), lymphedema, infection
<1% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, cardiac failure, cholestatic hepatitis, endometrial hyperplasia, gastric ulcer, GGT increased, hepatitis, hypersensitivity, neuropathy, osteochondrosis, pruritus, thromboembolism, transaminases increased, trigger finger, urticaria, uterine polyps
A dose-dependent decrease in sex hormone-binding globulin has been observed with daily doses of ≥2.5 mg. Serum luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels have increased with this medicine.
AUC is about 3 " ‰times higher in those with moderate or severe renal insufficiency.
AUC increased approximately 3 times in those with moderate or severe hepatic insufficiency.
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Decreased bone mineral density: Due to decreased circulating estrogen levels, exemestane is associated with a reduction in bone mineral density over time. Decreases (from baseline) in lumbar spine and femoral neck density have been observed. Assess bone mineral density at baseline in patients with, or at risk for osteoporosis; monitor exemestane therapy and initiate osteoporosis treatment if indicated.
- Lymphopenia: Grade 3 or 4 lymphopenia has been observed with exemestane, although most patients had preexisting lower grade lymphopenia; some patients improved or recovered while continuing exemestane. Lymphopenia did not result in a significant increase in viral infections, and no opportunistic infections were observed.
- Lab parameters: Elevations of AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transferase >5 times ULN have been observed (rarely) in patients with advanced breast cancer; may be attributable to underlying liver and/or bone metastases. In patients with early breast cancer, elevations of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and serum creatinine were more common with exemestane treatment than with tamoxifen or placebo.
Concurrent drug therapy issues:
- Drug-drug interactions: Potentially significant interactions may exist, requiring dose or frequency adjustment, additional monitoring, and/or selection of alternative therapy. Consult drug interactions database for more detailed information. Dose adjustment recommended with concomitant strong CYP3A4 inducers.
- Estrogen-containing drugs: Should not be administered concurrently with estrogen-containing drugs.
Special handling:
- Hazardous agent: Use appropriate precautions for handling and disposal (NIOSH 2014 [group 1]).
Other warnings/precautions:
- Vitamin D deficiency: Due to high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in women with breast cancer, assess 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels at baseline and supplement accordingly.
X
Adverse events were observed in animal reproduction studies. Exemestane is not indicated for use in premenopausal women and use during pregnancy is contraindicated. Based on the mechanism of action, exemestane is expected to cause fetal harm if administered to a pregnant woman.
Exemestane is an irreversible, steroidal aromatase inactivator. It is structurally related to androstenedione, and is converted to an intermediate that irreversibly blocks the active site of the aromatase enzyme, leading to inactivation ( "suicide inhibition " ¯) and thus preventing conversion of androgens to estrogens in peripheral tissues. Significantly lowers circulating estrogens in postmenopausal breast cancers where growth is estrogen-dependent.
Rapid and moderate (~42%) following oral administration; AUC and Cmax increased by 59% and 39%, respectively, following a high-fat breakfast (compared to fasted state)
Extensive into tissues
Extensively hepatic; oxidation (CYP3A4) of methylene group, reduction of 17-keto group with formation of many secondary metabolites; metabolites are inactive
Urine (<1% as unchanged drug, 39% to 45% as metabolites); feces (36% to 48%)
Women with breast cancer: 1.2 hours
~24 hours
90%, primarily to albumin andα1-acid glycoprotein
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Patient may experience hot flashes, joint pain, hair loss, loss of strength and energy, insomnia, sweating a lot, back pain, diarrhea, or anxiety. Have patient report immediately to prescriber signs of severe cerebrovascular disease (change in strength on one side is greater than the other, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, or change in eyesight), signs of DVT (edema, warmth, numbness, change in color, or pain in the extremities), angina, shortness of breath, excessive weight gain, swelling of arms or legs, burning or numbness feeling, bone pain, vision changes, depression, severe headache, severe dizziness, passing out, severe abdominal pain, jaundice, severe vomiting, or severe nausea (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for healthcare professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience and judgment in diagnosing, treating and advising patients.