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Fact box
- Therapeutic class
- Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) tyrosine kinase inhibitors
- Action class
- Kinase Inhibitor
- Mechanism
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors
- Habit forming
- No
- Availability
- Prescription (Rx)
Available as
250 MG · Oral Tablet
FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.
⚠ Boxed warningWARNING: HEPATOTOXICITY Hepatotoxicity has been observed in clinical trials and postmarketing experience. The hepatotoxicity may be severe and deaths have been reported. Causality of the deaths is uncertain [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . WARNING: HEPATOTOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Hepatotoxicity has been observed in clinical trials and postmarketing experience. The hepatotoxicity may be severe and deaths have been reported. Causality of the deaths is uncertain. ( 5.2 )
Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Lapatinib tablets are indicated in combination with: capecitabine for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and who have received prior therapy, including an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab. Limitations of Use : Patients should have disease progression on trastuzumab prior to initiation of treatment with lapatinib tablets in combination with capecitabine. letrozole for the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer that overexpresses the HER2 receptor for whom hormonal therapy is indicated. Lapatinib tablets in combination with an aromatase inhibitor has not been compared to a trastuzumab-containing chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Lapatinib tablets are a kinase inhibitor indicated in combination with: ( 1 ) capecitabine for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and who have received prior therapy, including an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab. Limitations of Use : Patients should have disease progression on trastuzumab prior to initiation of treatment with lapatinib tablets in combination with capecitabine. letrozole for the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer that overexpresses the HER2 receptor for whom hormonal therapy is indicated. Lapatinib tablets in combination with an aromatase inhibitor has not been compared to a trastuzumab-containing chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Lapatinib is a 4-anilinoquinazoline kinase inhibitor of the intracellular tyrosine kinase domains of both Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR [ErbB1]) and of Human Epidermal Receptor Type 2 (HER2 [ErbB2]) receptors (estimated Ki app values of 3nM and 13nM, respectively) with a dissociation half-life of greater than or equal to 300 minutes. Lapatinib inhibits ErbB-driven tumor cell growth in vitro and in various animal models. An additive effect was demonstrated in an in vitro study when lapatinib and 5-FU (the active metabolite of capecitabine) were used in combination in the 4-tumor cell lines tested. The growth inhibitory effects of lapatinib were evaluated in trastuzumab-conditioned cell lines. Lapatinib retained significant activity against breast cancer cell lines selected for long-term growth in trastuzumab-containing medium in vitro . These in vitro findings suggest non-cross-resistance between these two agents. Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer cells (with ER [Estrogen Receptor] and/or PgR [Progesterone Receptor]) that coexpress the HER2 tend to be resistant to established endocrine therapies. Similarly, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer cells that initially lack EGFR or HER2 upregulate these receptor proteins as the tumor becomes resistant to endocrine therapy.
How to use / dosing
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended dosage of lapatinib tablets for advanced or metastatic breast cancer is 1,250 mg (5 tablets) given orally once daily on Days 1 to 21 continuously in combination with capecitabine 2,000 mg/m 2 /day (administered orally in 2 doses approximately 12 hours apart) on Days 1 to 14 in a repeating 21-day cycle. ( 2.1 ) The recommended dose of lapatinib tablets for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is 1,500 mg (6 tablets) given orally once daily continuously in combination with letrozole. When lapatinib tablets are coadministered with letrozole, the recommended dose of letrozole is 2.5 mg once daily. ( 2.1 ) Lapatinib tablets should be taken at least one hour before or one hour after a meal. However, capecitabine should be taken with food or within 30 minutes after food. ( 2.1 ) Lapatinib tablets should be taken once daily. Do not divide daily doses of lapatinib tablets. ( 2.1 , 12.3 ) Modify dose for cardiac and other toxicities, severe hepatic impairment, diarrhea, and CYP3A4 drug interactions. ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosing HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer : The recommended dose of lapatinib tablets is 1,250 mg given orally once daily on Days 1 to 21 continuously in combination with capecitabine 2,000 mg/m 2 /day (administered orally in 2 doses approximately 12 hours apart) on Days 1 to 14 in a repeating 21-day cycle. Lapatinib tablets should be taken at least one hour before or one hour after a meal. The dose of lapatinib tablets should be once daily (5 tablets administered all at once); dividing the daily dose is not recommended [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] . Capecitabine should be taken with food or within 30 minutes after food. If a day’s dose is missed, the patient should not double the dose the next day. Treatment should be continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer : The recommended dose of lapatinib tablets is 1,500 mg given orally once daily continuously in combination with letrozole. When coadministered with lapatinib tablets, the recommended dose of letrozole is 2.5 mg once daily. Lapatinib tablets should be taken at least one hour before or one hour after a meal. The dose of lapatinib tablets should be once daily (6 tablets administered all at once); dividing the daily dose is not recommended [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] . 2.2 Dose Modification Guidelines Cardiac Events : Lapatinib tablets should be discontinued in patients with a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) that is Grade 2 or greater by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE v3.0), and in patients with an LVEF that drops below the institution’s lower limit of normal (LLN) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)] . Lapatinib tablets in combination with capecitabine may be restarted at a reduced dose (1,000 mg/day) and in combination with letrozole may be restarted at a reduced dose of 1,250 mg/day after a minimum of 2 weeks if the LVEF recovers to normal and the patient is asymptomatic. Hepatic Impairment : Patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C) should have their dose of lapatinib tablets reduced. A dose reduction from 1,250 mg/day to 750 mg/day (HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer indication) or from 1,500 mg/day to 1,000 mg/day (hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer indication) in patients with severe hepatic impairment is predicted to adjust the area under the curve (AUC) to the normal range and should be considered. However, there are no clinical data with this dose adjustment in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Diarrhea : Lapatinib tablets should be interrupted in patients with diarrhea which is NCI CTCAE Grade 3 or Grade 1 or 2 with complicating features (moderate to severe abdominal cramping, nausea or vomiting greater than or equal to NCI CT
Side effects
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common (greater than 20%) adverse reactions during treatment with lapatinib plus capecitabine were diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, nausea, rash, vomiting, and fatigue. The most common (greater than or equal to 20%) adverse reactions during treatment with lapatinib plus letrozole were diarrhea, rash, nausea, and fatigue. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AvKARE at 1-855-361-3993 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials 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. HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer : The safety of lapatinib has been evaluated in more than 12,000 patients in clinical trials. The efficacy and safety of lapatinib in combination with capecitabine in breast cancer was evaluated in 198 patients in a randomized, Phase 3 trial [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] . Adverse reactions, which occurred in at least 10% of patients in either treatment arm and were higher in the combination arm, are shown in Table 1. The most common adverse reactions (greater than 20%) during therapy with lapatinib plus capecitabine were gastrointestinal (diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting), dermatologic (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia and rash), and fatigue. Diarrhea was the most common adverse reaction resulting in discontinuation of study medication. The most common Grades 3 and 4 adverse reactions (NCI CTCAE v3.0) were diarrhea and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia. Selected laboratory abnormalities are shown in Table 2. Table 1. Adverse Reactions Occurring in Greater Than or Equal to 10% of Patients a NCI CTCAE v3.0. b Grade 3 dermatitis acneiform was reported in less than 1% of patients in the group receiving lapatinib plus capecitabine. Lapatinib 1,250 mg/day + Capecitabine 2,000 mg/m 2 /day Capecitabine 2,500 mg/m 2 /day (N = 198) (N = 191) All Grades a Grade 3 Grade 4 All Grades a Grade 3 Grade 4 Reactions % % % % % % Gastrointestinal disorders Diarrhea 65 13 1 40 10 0 Nausea 44 2 0 43 2 0 Vomiting 26 2 0 21 2 0 Stomatitis 14 0 0 11 < 1 0 Dyspepsia 11 < 1 0 3 0 0 Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia 53 12 0 51 14 0 Rash b 28 2 0 14 1 0 Dry skin 10 0 0 6 0 0 General disorders and administration site conditions Mucosal inflammation 15 0 0 12 2 0 Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders Pain in extremity 12 1 0 7 < 1 0 Back pain 11 1 0 6 < 1 0 Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders Dyspnea 12 3 0 8 2 0 Psychiatric disorders Insomnia 10 < 1 0 6 0 0 Table 2. Selected Laboratory Abnormalities Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase. a NCI CTCAE v3.0. Lapatinib 1,250 mg/day + Capecitabine 2,000 mg/m 2 /day Capecitabine 2,500 mg/m 2 /day All Grades a Grade 3 Grade 4 All Grades a Grade 3 Grade 4 Parameters % % % % % % Hematologic Hemoglobin 56 < 1 0 53 1 0 Platelets 18 < 1 0 17 < 1 < 1 Neutrophils 22 3 < 1 31 2 1 Hepatic Total Bilirubin 45 4 0 30 3 0 AST 49 2 < 1 43 2 0 ALT 37 2 0 33 1 0 Hormone Receptor-Positive, Metastatic Breast Cancer : In a randomized, Phase 3 clinical trial of patients (N = 1,286) with hormone receptor-positive, metastatic breast cancer, who had not received chemotherapy for their metastatic disease, patients received letrozole with or without lapatinib. In this trial, the safety profile of lapatinib was consistent with previously reported results from trials of lapatinib in the advanced or metastatic breast cancer population. Adverse reactions, which occurred in at least 10% of patients in either treatment arm and were higher in the combination arm are shown in Table 3. Selected laboratory abnormalities are shown in Table 4. Table 3. Adverse Reactions Occurring in Greater Than or Equal to 10% of Patients a NCI CTCAE
Safety advice
Conservative summary derived from FDA labeling — defaults to “consult your doctor” unless the label is explicit. Not a substitute for your clinician’s advice.
PregnancyUnsafe
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on findings in animal studies and its mechanism of action, lapatinib can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1 )] . There are no available human data to inform of the drug-associated risks. In an animal reproduction study, administration of lapatinib to pregnant rats during organogenesis and through lactation led to death of offspring within the first 4 days after birth at maternal exposures that were ≥ 3.3 times the human clinical exposure based on AUC following 1,250 mg dose of lapatinib plus capecitabine. When administered to pregnant animals during the period of organogenesis, lapatinib caused fetal anomalies (rats) or abortions (rabbits) at maternally toxic doses (see Data) . Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to the fetus. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown; however, in the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects is 2% to 4% and of miscarriage is 15% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies. Data Animal Data In embryo-fetal development studies in rats and rabbits, pregnant animals received oral doses of lapatinib at 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. Minor anomalies (left-sided umbilical artery, cervical rib, and precocious ossification) occurred in rats at the maternally toxic dose of 120 mg/kg/day (approximately 6.4 times the human clinical exposure based on AUC following 1,250 mg dose of lapatinib plus capecitabine). In rabbits, lapatinib was associated with maternal toxicity at 60 and 120 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.07 and 0.2 times the human clinical exposure, respectively, based on AUC following 1,250 mg dose of lapatinib plus capecitabine) and abortions at 120 mg/kg/day. Maternal toxicity was associated with decreased fetal body weights and minor skeletal variations. In a pre- and post-natal development study, rats were given oral doses of 20, 60, and 120 mg/kg/day during gestation through lactation up to weaning. In rats, doses of 60 and 120 mg/kg/day (approximately 3.3 and 6.4 times the human clinical exposure, respectively, based on AUC following 1,250 mg dose of lapatinib plus capecitabine) led to decrease in F1 postnatal survival (91% and 34% of the pups died by the fourth day after birth, at 60 and 120 mg/kg/day, respectively).
BreastfeedingCaution
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Lactation: Advise not to breastfeed.…
AlcoholNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
DrivingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
KidneyNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
LiverCaution
…( 2.1 , 12.3 ) Modify dose for cardiac and other toxicities, severe hepatic impairment, diarrhea, and CYP3A4 drug interactions.…
Warnings & precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have been reported. Confirm normal LVEF before starting lapatinib and continue evaluations during treatment. ( 5.1 ) Lapatinib has been associated with hepatotoxicity. Monitor liver function tests before initiation of treatment, every 4 to 6 weeks during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Discontinue and do not restart lapatinib if patients experience severe changes in liver function tests. ( 5.2 ) Dose reduction in patients with severe hepatic impairment should be considered. ( 2.2 , 5.3 , 8.7 ) Diarrhea, including severe diarrhea, has been reported during treatment. Manage with antidiarrheal agents, and replace fluids and electrolytes if severe. ( 5.4 ) Lapatinib has been associated with interstitial lung disease and pneumonitis. Discontinue lapatinib if patients experience severe pulmonary symptoms. ( 5.5 ) Lapatinib may prolong the QT interval in some patients. Consider electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrolyte monitoring. ( 5.6, 12.2 ) Severe cutaneous reactions have been reported. Discontinue lapatinib if life-threatening reactions are suspected. ( 5.7 ) Lapatinib can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of the potential risk to the fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.8 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) 5.1 Decreased Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Lapatinib has been reported to decrease LVEF [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . In clinical trials, the majority (greater than 57%) of LVEF decreases occurred within the first 12 weeks of treatment; however, data on long-term exposure are limited. Caution should be taken if lapatinib is to be administered to patients with conditions that could impair left ventricular function. LVEF should be evaluated in all patients prior to initiation of treatment with lapatinib to ensure that the patient has a baseline LVEF that is within the institution’s normal limits. LVEF should continue to be evaluated during treatment with lapatinib to ensure that LVEF does not decline below the institution’s normal limits [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 )] . 5.2 Hepatotoxicity Hepatotoxicity [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and total bilirubin greater than 2 times the ULN] has been observed in clinical trials (less than 1% of patients) and postmarketing experience. The hepatotoxicity may be severe and deaths have been reported. Causality of the deaths is uncertain. The hepatotoxicity may occur days to several months after initiation of treatment. Liver function tests (transaminases, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase) should be monitored before initiation of treatment, every 4 to 6 weeks during treatment, and as clinically indicated. If changes in liver function are severe, therapy with lapatinib should be discontinued and patients should not be retreated with lapatinib [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . 5.3 Patients With Severe Hepatic Impairment If lapatinib is to be administered to patients with severe preexisting hepatic impairment, dose reduction should be considered [see Dosage and Administration (2.2 ) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.7 )] . In patients who develop severe hepatotoxicity while on therapy, lapatinib should be discontinued and patients should not be retreated with lapatinib [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . 5.4 Diarrhea Diarrhea has been reported during treatment with lapatinib [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . The diarrhea may be severe, and deaths have been reported. Diarrhea generally occurs early during treatment with lapatinib, with almost half of those patients with diarrhea first experiencing it within 6 days. This usually lasts 4 to 5 days. Lapatinib-induced diarrhea is usually low-grade, with severe diarrhea of NCI CTCAE Grades 3 and 4 occurring in less than 10% and less than 1% of patients, respectively. Early identification and intervention is critical for the optimal management of diarrhea. Pat
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Lapatinib tablets are contraindicated in patients with known severe hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylaxis) to this product or any of its components. Known severe hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylaxis) to this product or any of its components. ( 4 )
Pediatric use
8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of lapatinib in pediatric patients have not been established.
⚑ About half of pediatric medication use is off-label and not described in FDA labels — absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children. Confirm with your clinician.
Interactions (label text — not an interaction checker)
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Lapatinib is likely to increase exposure to concomitantly administered drugs which are substrates of CYP3A4, CYP2C8, or P-glycoprotein (ABCB1). ( 7.1 ) Avoid strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. If unavoidable, consider dose reduction of lapatinib in patients coadministered a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor. ( 2.2 , 7.2 ) Avoid strong CYP3A4 inducers. If unavoidable, consider gradual dose increase of lapatinib in patients coadministered a strong CYP3A4 inducer. ( 2.2 , 7.2 ) 7.1 Effects of Lapatinib on Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes and Drug Transport Systems Lapatinib inhibits CYP3A4, CYP2C8, and P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1) in vitro at clinically relevant concentrations and is a weak inhibitor of CYP3A4 in vivo . Caution should be exercised and dose reduction of the concomitant substrate drug should be considered when dosing lapatinib concurrently with medications with narrow therapeutic windows that are substrates of CYP3A4, CYP2C8, or P-gp. Lapatinib did not significantly inhibit the following enzymes in human liver microsomes: CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6 or UGT enzymes in vitro , however, the clinical significance is unknown. Midazolam : Following coadministration of lapatinib and midazolam (CYP3A4 substrate), 24-hour systemic exposure (AUC) of orally administered midazolam increased 45%, while 24-hour AUC of intravenously administered midazolam increased 22%. Paclitaxel : In cancer patients receiving lapatinib and paclitaxel (CYP2C8 and P-gp substrate), 24-hour systemic exposure (AUC) of paclitaxel was increased 23%. This increase in paclitaxel exposure may have been underestimated from the in vivo evaluation due to study design limitations. Digoxin : Following coadministration of lapatinib and digoxin (P-gp substrate), systemic AUC of an oral digoxin dose increased approximately 2.8-fold. Serum digoxin concentrations should be monitored prior to initiation of lapatinib and throughout coadministration. If digoxin serum concentration is greater than 1.2 ng/mL, the digoxin dose should be reduced by half. 7.2 Drugs That Inhibit or Induce Cytochrome P450 3A4 Enzymes Lapatinib undergoes extensive metabolism by CYP3A4, and concomitant administration of strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 alter lapatinib concentrations significantly (see Ketoconazole and Carbamazepine sections, below) . Dose adjustment of lapatinib should be considered for patients who must receive concomitant strong inhibitors or concomitant strong inducers of CYP3A4 enzymes [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 )] . Ketoconazole : In healthy subjects receiving ketoconazole, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, at 200 mg twice daily for 7 days, systemic exposure (AUC) to lapatinib was increased to approximately 3.6-fold of control and half-life increased to 1.7-fold of control. Carbamazepine : In healthy subjects receiving the CYP3A4 inducer, carbamazepine, at 100 mg twice daily for 3 days and 200 mg twice daily for 17 days, systemic exposure (AUC) to lapatinib was decreased approximately 72%. 7.3 Drugs That Inhibit Drug Transport Systems Lapatinib is a substrate of the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1). If lapatinib is administered with drugs that inhibit P-gp, increased concentrations of lapatinib are likely, and caution should be exercised. 7.4 Acid-Reducing Agents The aqueous solubility of lapatinib is pH dependent, with higher pH resulting in lower solubility. However, esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, administered at a dose of 40 mg once daily for 7 days, did not result in a clinically meaningful reduction in lapatinib steady-state exposure.
Overdose
10 OVERDOSAGE There is no known antidote for overdoses of lapatinib. The maximum oral doses of lapatinib that have been administered in clinical trials are 1,800 mg once daily. More frequent ingestion of lapatinib could result in serum concentrations exceeding those observed in clinical trials and could result in increased toxicity. Therefore, missed doses should not be replaced and dosing should resume with the next scheduled daily dose. Asymptomatic and symptomatic cases of overdose have been reported. The doses ranged from 2,500 to 9,000 mg daily and where reported, the duration varied between 1 and 17 days. Symptoms observed include lapatinib-associated events [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)] and in some cases sore scalp, sinus tachycardia (with otherwise normal ECG), and/or mucosal inflammation. Because lapatinib is not significantly renally excreted and is highly bound to plasma proteins, hemodialysis would not be expected to be an effective method to enhance the elimination of lapatinib. Treatment of overdose with lapatinib should consist of general supportive measures.
Current FDA labels (DailyMed)
2 marketed products on record (RxNorm)
Reference only — not clinical advice. Verify against current FDA labeling and consult a licensed provider. About half of pediatric drug use is off-label and is not reflected in FDA labels; absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children.