Teniposide

 Risk Factor: D
 Class: ANTINEOPLASTICS

Contents of this page:

Fetal Risk Summary
Breast Feeding Summary
References
Questions and Answers

Fetal Risk Summary

Teniposide, a podophyllin derivative, has been used in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of one pregnancy (1). An apparently normal infant was delivered at 37 weeks of gestation.

Reproduction studies in rats given IV doses of 0.13 mg/kg (0.618 mg/m2) every second day from day 6 to day 16 postcoitum revealed dose-related embryotoxicity and teratogenicity (2). Congenital malformations consisted of spinal and rib defects, deformed extremities, anophthalmia, and celosomia.

Long-term studies of growth and mental development in offspring exposed to antineoplastic agents during the 2nd trimester, the period of neuroblast multiplication, have not been conducted (3).

Occupational exposure of the mother to antineoplastic agents during pregnancy may present a risk to the fetus. A position statement from the National Study Commission on Cytotoxic Exposure and a research article involving some antineoplastic agents are presented in the monograph for cyclophosphamide (see Cyclophosphamide).

Breast Feeding Summary

No data are available.

References

1. Lowenthal RM, Funnell CF, Hope DM, Stewart IG, Humphrey DC. Normal infant after combination chemotherapy including teniposide for Burkitt's lymphoma in pregnancy. Med Pediatr Oncol 1982;10:1659.
2. Product information. Vumon. Bristol-Myers Squibb, 2000.
3. Dobbing J. Pregnancy and leukaemia. Lancet 1977;1:1155.