Pronunciation guide
Click here to find out how oral cyclophosphamide works
Oral cyclophosphamide can be used to treat a range of cancers, including
breast cancer, leukaemia,
lymphoma , lung cancer, myeloma, and ovarian cancer.
Is it effective?
Breast cancer
Oral cyclophosphamide has been used since the early 1970s in
combination with methotrexate and
fluorouracil/5-FU for the treatment of breast cancer that has spread.
It is also used in this combination as
adjuvant therapy following surgery, where it improves survival,
especially in premenopausal women. Overall survival for postmenopausal women
with breast cancer that has spread is better when cyclophosphamide is given
orally in combination with methotrexate and fluorouracil than when
cyclophosphamide is given intravenously with these two drugs.
1
Leukaemia and lymphoma
Oral cyclophosphamide is often used in the treatment of a variety of
leukaemias and is used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of
lymphomas. 2,3
Lung cancer
Oral cyclophosphamide is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer and small
cell lung cancer. When used in combination with oral etoposide for patients
with advanced disease, some patients may benefit. The advantage of an all-oral
treatment regimen on the patient's quality of life, however, is an important
consideration. 4
Myeloma
Patients who receive cyclophosphamide in combination with adriamycin and
dexamethasone for the treatment of myeloma have been found to have high
remission rates. This may improve survival time for these patients. Using this
regimen, cyclophosphamide can be given either orally or intravenously.
5
Ovarian cancer
Oral cyclophosphamide is one of the older drugs used to treat ovarian cancer;
however it is rarely used now, having been replaced by newer, more effective
treatment options. 6
How is it taken?
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The tablets should be swallowed whole with plenty of water
You should not take oral cyclophosphamide if:
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You are
hypersensitive to any of the components of the tablets
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You are pregnant
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You are breastfeeding
How does it work?
2
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After it is swallowed, oral cyclophosphamide is taken to the liver via the
bloodstream
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In the liver, it is converted into two active substances
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These two substances bind to the
genetic material in the cancer cells
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This prevents the cells from dividing
What are the side effects associated with oral
cyclophosphamide?
As with any type of chemotherapy, there are some side effects associated with
oral cyclophosphamide. The most common ones are listed below.
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Temporary increased susceptibility to infection, due to a reduction in the
number of white blood cells
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Nausea and
vomiting
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Loss of appetite
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Bladder irritation
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Hair loss
The information in this section is taken from
published literature and the summary of product characteristics for this drug.
For further patient information on oral cyclophosphamide please click on the
UK Patient Information leaflet
http://emc.medicines.org.uk/ and type in the word cyclophosphamide in the
‘quick search’ option box. Please contact your healthcare professional for
full information on product availability in your country.
References
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O'Shaughnessey JA. Oral calylating agents for breast cancer
therapy. Drugs 1999; 58 Suppl 3: 1-9.
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Modern Pharmacology. Craig CR, Stitzel RE eds. Little,
Brown, Boston, 1994.
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A textbook of clinical pharmacology. Ritter JM, Lweis LD,
Mant TGK eds. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1999.
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Grunberg SM. Cylcophosphamide and etoposide for non-small
cell and small cell lung cancer. Drugs 1999; 58 Suppl 3: 11-15.
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Szelenyi H, Kreuser ED, Keilholz U et al. Cyclophosphamide,
adriamycin and dexamethasone (CAD) is a highly effective therapy for patients
with advanced multiple myeloma. Annals of Oncology 2001; 12(1); 105-8.
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Price P, Sikora K eds. Treatment of Cancer, Arnold, London,
2002.
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Oral cyclophosphamide Summary of Product Characteristics.
http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/
displayDocPrinterFriendly.asp?documentid=10550
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Cancerbacup:
http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/info/cyclophosphamide.htm
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