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Fact box
- Therapeutic class
- Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase inhibitors
- Action class
- Kinase Inhibitor
- Mechanism
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors
- Habit forming
- No
- Availability
- Prescription (Rx)
Available as
1.2 ML · Injection
FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.
Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Temsirolimus injection is indicated for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Temsirolimus injection is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. ( 1 )
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Temsirolimus is an inhibitor of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). Temsirolimus binds to an intracellular protein (FKBP-12), and the protein-drug complex inhibits the activity of mTOR that controls cell division. Inhibition of mTOR activity resulted in a G1 growth arrest in treated tumor cells. When mTOR was inhibited, its ability to phosphorylate p70S6k and S6 ribosomal protein, which are downstream of mTOR in the PI3 kinase/AKT pathway was blocked. In in vitro studies using renal cell carcinoma cell lines, temsirolimus inhibited the activity of mTOR and resulted in reduced levels of the hypoxia-inducible factors HIF-1 and HIF-2 alpha, and the vascular endothelial growth factor.
How to use / dosing
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended dose of Temsirolimus injection is 25 mg administered as an intravenous infusion over a 30-60 minute period once a week. Treat until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. ( 2.1 ) Antihistamine pre-treatment is recommended. ( 2.2 ) Dose reduction is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment. ( 2.4 ) Temsirolimus injection vial contents must first be diluted with the enclosed diluent before diluting the resultant solution with 250 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection. ( 2.5 ) 2.1 Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma The recommended dose of Temsirolimus injection for advanced renal cell carcinoma is 25 mg administered as an intravenous infusion over a 30 – 60 minute period once a week. Treatment should continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. 2.2 Premedication Patients should receive prophylactic intravenous diphenhydramine 25 to 50 mg (or similar antihistamine) approximately 30 minutes before the start of each dose of Temsirolimus injection [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . 2.3 Dosage Interruption/Adjustment Temsirolimus injection should be held for absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <1,000/mm 3 , platelet count <75,000/mm 3 , or NCI CTCAE grade 3 or greater adverse reactions. Once toxicities have resolved to grade 2 or less, Temsirolimus injection may be restarted with the dose reduced by 5 mg/week to a dose no lower than 15 mg/week. 2.4 Dose Modification Guidelines Hepatic Impairment : Use caution when treating patients with hepatic impairment. If Temsirolimus injection must be given in patients with mild hepatic impairment (bilirubin >1 - 1.5xULN or AST >ULN but bilirubin ≤ULN), reduce the dose of Temsirolimus injection to 15 mg/week. Temsirolimus injection is contraindicated in patients with bilirubin >1.5×ULN [see Contraindications ( 4 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.7 )]. Concomitant Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors : The concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors should be avoided (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, atazanavir, indinavir, nefazodone, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, telithromycin, and voriconazole). Grapefruit juice may also increase plasma concentrations of sirolimus (a major metabolite of temsirolimus) and should be avoided. If patients must be co-administered a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, based on pharmacokinetic studies, a Temsirolimus injection dose reduction to 12.5 mg/week should be considered. This dose of Temsirolimus injection is predicted to adjust the AUC to the range observed without inhibitors. However, there are no clinical data with this dose adjustment in patients receiving strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. If the strong inhibitor is discontinued, a washout period of approximately 1 week should be allowed before the Temsirolimus injection dose is adjusted back to the dose used prior to initiation of the strong CYP3A4 inhibitor [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.12 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7.2 )] . Concomitant Strong CYP3A4 Inducers : The use of concomitant strong CYP3A4 inducers should be avoided (e.g. dexamethasone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, rifampacin, phenobarbital). If patients must be co-administered a strong CYP3A4 inducer, based on pharmacokinetic studies, a Temsirolimus injection dose increase from 25 mg/week up to 50 mg/week should be considered. This dose of Temsirolimus injection is predicted to adjust the AUC to the range observed without inducers. However, there are no clinical data with this dose adjustment in patients receiving strong CYP3A4 inducers. If the strong inducer is discontinued the temsirolimus dose should be returned to the dose used prior to initiation of the strong CYP3A4 inducer [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.12 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7.1 )]. 2.5 Instructions for Preparation Temsirolimus injection is a cytotoxic drug. Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures 1 . Temsirolimus injection must be sto
Side effects
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions have been associated with Temsirolimus injection in clinical trials and are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5 )] . Hypersensitivity/Infusion Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Hepatic Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Hyperglycemia/Glucose Intolerance [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Infections [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Interstitial Lung Disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Hyperlipidemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Bowel Perforation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Renal Failure [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Wound Healing Complications [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Intracerebral Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] The most common (≥ 30%) adverse reactions observed with Temsirolimus injection are rash, asthenia, mucositis, nausea, edema, and anorexia. The most common (≥30%) laboratory abnormalities observed with Temsirolimus injection are anemia, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, lymphopenia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, elevated serum creatinine, hypophosphatemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated AST, and leukopenia. The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 30%) are rash, asthenia, mucositis, nausea, edema, and anorexia. The most common laboratory abnormalities (incidence ≥30%) are anemia, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, elevated serum creatinine, lymphopenia, hypophosphatemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated AST, and leukopenia. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC at 1-800-551-7176 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, the adverse reaction rates observed cannot be directly compared to rates in other trials and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. In the phase 3 randomized, open-label study of interferon alfa (IFN-α) alone, Temsirolimus injection alone, and Temsirolimus injection and IFN-α, a total of 616 patients were treated. Two hundred patients received IFN-α weekly, 208 received Temsirolimus injection 25 mg weekly, and 208 patients received a combination of Temsirolimus injection and IFN-α weekly [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )]. Treatment with the combination of Temsirolimus injection 15 mg and IFN-α was associated with an increased incidence of multiple adverse reactions and did not result in a significant increase in overall survival when compared with IFN-α alone. Table 1 shows the percentage of patients experiencing treatment emergent adverse reactions. Reactions reported in at least 10% of patients who received Temsirolimus injection 25 mg alone or IFN-α alone are listed. Table 2 shows the percentage of patients experiencing selected laboratory abnormalities. Data for the same adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities in the IFN-α alone arm are shown for comparison: Table 1 – Adverse Reactions Reported in at Least 10% of Patients Who Received 25 mg IV Temsirolimus injection or IFN- in the Randomized Trial * Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), Version 3.0. a Includes edema, facial edema, and peripheral edema b Includes aphthous stomatitis, glossitis, mouth ulceration, mucositis, and stomatitis c Includes infections not otherwise specified (NOS) and the following infections that occurred infrequently as distinct entities: abscess, bronchitis, cellulitis, herpes simplex, and herpes zoster d Includes cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, urinary frequency, and urinary tract infection e Includes eczema, exfoliative dermatitis, maculopapular rash, pruritic rash, pustular rash, rash (NOS), and vesiculobullous rash f Includes taste loss and taste perversion Adverse Reaction Temsirolimus injection 25 mg n=208 IFN-α n=200 All Grades* n (%) Grades 3&4* n
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, temsirolimus can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1 )] . Although there are no data on the use of Temsirolimus injection in pregnant women, there are limited data on the use of sirolimus, the active metabolite of temsirolimus, during pregnancy; however, these data are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. In animal reproductive studies, oral daily administration of temsirolimus to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis caused adverse embryo-fetal effects at approximately 0.04 and 0.12 times the AUC in patients at the recommended dose, respectively (see Data ) . Advise pregnant women of the potential hazard 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. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2–4% and 15–20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Temsirolimus administered daily as an oral formulation throughout organogenesis caused adverse embryo-fetal effects in rats and rabbits at human sub-therapeutic exposures. Embryo-fetal adverse effects in rats consisted of reduced fetal weight and reduced ossifications, and in rabbits included reduced fetal weight, omphalocele, bifurcated sternabrae, notched ribs, and incomplete ossifications. In rats, the adverse embryo-fetal effects were observed at the oral dose of 2.7 mg/m2/day (approximately 0.04-fold the AUC in patients with cancer at the human recommended dose). In rabbits, the adverse embryo-fetal effects were observed at the oral dose of ≥7.2 mg/m2/day (approximately 0.12-fold the AUC in patients with cancer at the recommended human dose).
BreastfeedingConsult your doctor
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Lactation: Do not breastfeed.…
AlcoholNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
DrivingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
KidneyConsult your doctor
…( 2.5 ) 2.1 Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma The recommended dose of Temsirolimus injection for advanced renal cell carcinoma is 25 mg administered as an intravenous infusion over a 30 – 60 minute period once a week.…
LiverCaution
…( 2.2 ) Dose reduction is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment.…
Warnings & precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Hypersensitivity/Infusion Reactions (including some life-threatening and rare fatal reactions) can occur early in the first infusion of Temsirolimus injection. Patients should be monitored throughout the infusion. ( 5.1 ) To treat hypersensitivity reactions, stop Temsirolimus injection and treat with an antihistamine. Temsirolimus injection may be restarted at physician discretion at a slower rate. ( 5.1 ) Hepatic Impairment: Use caution when treating patients with mild hepatic impairment and reduce dose. ( 2.4 , 5.2 ) Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia are likely and may require treatment. Monitor glucose and lipid profiles. ( 5.3 , 5.6 ) Infections may result from immunosuppression. ( 5.4 ) Monitor for symptoms or radiographic changes of interstitial lung disease (ILD). If ILD is suspected, discontinue Temsirolimus injection, and consider use of corticosteroids and/or antibiotics. ( 5.5 ) Bowel perforation may occur. Evaluate fever, abdominal pain, bloody stools, and/or acute abdomen promptly. ( 5.7 ) Renal failure, sometimes fatal, has occurred. Monitor renal function at baseline and while on Temsirolimus injection. ( 5.8 ) Due to abnormal wound healing, use Temsirolimus injection with caution in the perioperative period. ( 5.9 ) Proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome may occur. Monitor urine protein prior to the start of Temsirolimus injection therapy and periodically thereafter. Discontinue Temsirolimus injection in patients with who develop nephrotic syndrome. ( 5.11 ) Live vaccinations and close contact with those who received live vaccines should be avoided. ( 5.14 ) Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of the potential hazard to the fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.15 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) Elderly patients may be more likely to experience certain adverse reactions, including diarrhea, edema and pneumonia. ( 5.16 ) 5.1 Hypersensitivity/Infusion Reactions Hypersensitivity/infusion reactions, including but not limited to flushing, chest pain, dyspnea, hypotension, apnea, loss of consciousness, hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis, have been associated with the administration of temsirolimus. These reactions can occur very early in the first infusion, but may also occur with subsequent infusions. Patients should be monitored throughout the infusion and appropriate supportive care should be available. Temsirolimus infusion should be interrupted in all patients with severe infusion reactions and appropriate medical therapy administered. Temsirolimus injection should be used with caution in persons with known hypersensitivity to temsirolimus or its metabolites (including sirolimus), polysorbate 80, or to any other component (including the excipients) of Temsirolimus injection. An H 1 antihistamine should be administered to patients before the start of the intravenous temsirolimus infusion. Temsirolimus injection should be used with caution in patients with known hypersensitivity to an antihistamine, or patients who cannot receive an antihistamine for other medical reasons. If a patient develops a hypersensitivity reaction during the Temsirolimus injection infusion, the infusion should be stopped and the patient should be observed for at least 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the severity of the reaction). At the discretion of the physician, treatment may be resumed with the administration of an H 1 -receptor antagonist (such as diphenhydramine), if not previously administered [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 )] , and/or an H 2 -receptor antagonist (such as intravenous famotidine 20 mg or intravenous ranitidine 50 mg) approximately 30 minutes before restarting the Temsirolimus injection infusion. The infusion may then be resumed at a slower rate (up to 60 minutes). A benefit-risk assessment should be done prior to the continuation of temsirolimus therapy in patients with severe or life-threatening reactions. 5.2 Hepatic Impairment The safety and pharmacokinetics of Temsirolimus
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Temsirolimus injection is contraindicated in patients with bilirubin >1.5×ULN [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. Temsirolimus injection is contraindicated in patients with bilirubin > 1.5×ULN. ( 4 )
Pediatric use
8.4 Pediatric Use Limited data are available on the use of temsirolimus in pediatric patients. The effectiveness of temsirolimus in pediatric patients with advanced recurrent/refractory solid tumors has not been established. Temsirolimus injection was studied in 71 patients (59 patients ages 1 to 17 years and 12 patients ages 18 to 21 years) with relapsed/refractory solid tumors in a phase 1-2 safety and exploratory pharmacodynamic study. In phase 1, 19 pediatric patients with advanced recurrent/refractory solid tumors received Temsirolimus injection at doses ranging from 10 mg/m 2 to 150 mg/m 2 as a 60-minute intravenous infusion once weekly in three-week cycles. In phase 2, 52 pediatric patients with recurrent/relapsed neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, or high grade glioma received Temsirolimus injection at a weekly dose of 75 mg/m 2 . One of 19 patients with neuroblastoma achieved a partial response. There were no objective responses in pediatric patients with recurrent/relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma or high grade glioma. Adverse reactions associated with Temsirolimus injection were similar to those observed in adults. The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in pediatric patients receiving the 75 mg/m 2 dose included thrombocytopenia, infections, asthenia/fatigue, fever, pain, leukopenia, rash, anemia, hyperlipidemia, increased cough, stomatitis, anorexia, increased plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, abdominal pain, headache, arthralgia, upper respiratory infection, nausea and vomiting, neutropenia, hypokalemia, and hypophosphatemia. Pharmacokinetics: In phase 1 of the above mentioned pediatric trial, the single dose and multiple dose total systemic exposure (AUC) of temsirolimus and sirolimus were less than dose-proportional over the dose range of 10 to 150 mg/m 2 . In the phase 2 portion, the multiple dose (Day 1, Cycle 2) pharmacokinetics of Temsirolimus injection 75 mg/m 2 were characterized in an additional 35 patients ages 28 days to 21 years (median age of 8 years). The geometric mean body surface adjusted clearance of temsirolimus and sirolimus was 9.45 L/h/m 2 and 9.26 L/h/m 2 , respectively. The mean elimination half-life of temsirolimus and sirolimus was 31 hours and 44 hours, respectively. The exposure (AUCss) to temsirolimus and sirolimus was approximately 6-fold and 2-fold higher, respectively than the exposure in adult patients receiving a 25 mg intravenous infusion.
⚑ 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 Strong inducers of CYP3A4/5 and inhibitors of CYP3A4 may affect concentrations of the primary metabolite of Temsirolimus injection. If alternatives cannot be used, dose modifications of Temsirolimus injection are recommended. ( 7.1 , 7.2 , 7.3 ) 7.1 Agents Inducing CYP3A Metabolism Co-administration of Temsirolimus injection with rifampin, a potent CYP3A4/5 inducer, had no significant effect on temsirolimus C max (maximum concentration) and AUC (area under the concentration versus the time curve) after intravenous administration, but decreased sirolimus C max by 65% and AUC by 56% compared to Temsirolimus injection treatment alone. If alternative treatment cannot be administered, a dose adjustment should be considered [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4 )] . 7.2 Agents Inhibiting CYP3A Metabolism Co-administration of Temsirolimus injection with ketoconazole, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, had no significant effect on temsirolimus C max or AUC; however, sirolimus AUC increased 3.1-fold, and C max increased 2.2-fold compared to Temsirolimus injection alone. If alternative treatment cannot be administered, a dose adjustment should be considered [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4 )] . 7.3 Angioedema with ACE inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers Angioedema has been reported in patients taking mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors in combination with ramipril and/or amlodipine. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of angioedema when temsirolimus is given concomitantly with an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., ramipril) or calcium channel blockers (CCB) (e.g., amlodipine).
Overdose
10 OVERDOSAGE There is no specific treatment for Temsirolimus injection intravenous overdose. Temsirolimus injection has been administered to patients with cancer in phase 1 and 2 trials with repeated intravenous doses as high as 220 mg/m 2 . The risk of several serious adverse events, including thrombosis, bowel perforation, interstitial lung disease (ILD), seizure, and psychosis, is increased with doses of Temsirolimus injection greater than 25 mg.
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.