Vinblastine

 Risk Factor: DM
 Class: ANTINEOPLASTICS

Contents of this page:

Fetal Risk Summary
Breast Feeding Summary
References
Questions and Answers

Fetal Risk Summary

Vinblastine is an antimitotic antineoplastic agent. The drug is embryocidal and teratogenic in laboratory animals (no details provided) (1).

The drug has been used in pregnancy, including the 1st trimester, without producing malformations (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10). Two cases of malformed infants have been reported following 1st trimester exposure to vinblastine (10,11). In 1974, a case of a 27-year-old woman with Hodgkin's disease who was given vinblastine, mechlorethamine, and procarbazine during the 1st trimester was described (11). At 24 weeks' gestation, she spontaneously aborted a male fetus with oligodactyly of both feet with webbing of the third and fourth toes. These defects were attributed to mechlor-ethamine therapy. A mother with Hodgkin's disease treated with vinblastine, vincristine, and procarbazine in the 1st trimester (3 weeks after the last menstrual period) delivered a 1900-g male infant at about 37 weeks of gestation (12). The newborn developed fatal respiratory distress syndrome. At autopsy, a small secundum atrial septal defect was found.

Vinblastine in combination with other antineoplastic agents may produce gonadal dysfunction in men and women (13,14,15 and 16). Alkylating agents are the most frequent cause of this problem (15). Although total aspermia may result, return of fertility has apparently been documented in at least two cases (16). Ovarian function may return to normal with successful pregnancies possible, depending on the patient's age at the time of therapy and the total dose of chemotherapy received (14,17). The long-term effects of combination chemotherapy on menstrual and reproductive function were described in a 1988 report (18). Only 5 of 40 women treated for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors received vinblastine. The results of this study are discussed in the monograph for cyclophosphamide (see Cyclophosphamide).

In 436 long-term survivors treated with chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic tumors between 1958 and 1978, 11 (2.5%) received vinblastine as part of their treatment regimens (19). Of the 11 women, 2 (18%) had at least one live birth (mean and maximum vinblastine dose 20 mg), and 9 (82%) did not try to conceive (mean dose 37 mg, maximum dose 80 mg). Additional details, including congenital anomalies observed, are described in the monograph for vincristine (see Vincristine).

Data from one review indicated that 40% of infants exposed to anticancer drugs were of low birth weight (20). This finding was not related to the timing of exposure. Long-term studies of growth and mental development in offspring exposed to vinblastine during the 2nd trimester, the period of neuroblast multiplication, have not been conducted (21). However, two children exposed throughout gestation, beginning with the 3rd4th week of gestation, were normal at 2 and 5 years of age, respectively (10).

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. Product information. Velban. Eli Lilly, 2000.
2. Armstrong JG, Dyke RW, Fouts PJ, Jansen CJ. Delivery of a normal infant during the course of oral vinblastine sulfate therapy for Hodgkin's disease. Ann Intern Med 1964;61:1067.
3. Rosenzweig AI, Crews QE Jr, Hopwood HG. Vinblastine sulfate in Hodgkin's disease in pregnancy. Ann Intern Med 1964;61:10812.
4. Lacher MJ. Use of vinblastine sulfate to treat Hodgkin's disease during pregnancy. Ann Intern Med 1964;61:1135.
5. Lacher MJ, Geller W. Cyclophosphamide and vinblastine sulfate in Hodgkin's disease during pregnancy. JAMA 1966;195:1924.
6. Nordlund JJ, DeVita VT Jr, Carbone PP. Severe vinblastine-induced leukopenia during late pregnancy with delivery of a normal infant. Ann Intern Med 1968;69:5812.
7. Goguei A. Hodgkin's disease and pregnancy. Nouv Presse Med 1970;78:150710.
8. Johnson IR, Filshie GM. Hodgkin's disease diagnosed in pregnancy: case report. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1977;84:7912.
9. Nisce LZ, Tome MA, He S, Lee BJ III, Kutcher GJ. Management of coexisting Hodgkin's disease and pregnancy. Am J Clin Oncol 1986;9:14651.
10. Malone JM, Gershenson DM, Creasy RK, Kavanagh JJ, Silva EG, Stringer CA. Endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary associated with pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 1986;68(Suppl):86S9S.
11. Garrett MJ. Teratogenic effects of combination chemotherapy. Ann Intern Med 1974;80:667.
12. Thomas RPM, Peckham MJ. The investigation and management of Hodgkin's disease in the pregnant patient. Cancer 1976;38:144351.
13. Morgenfeld MC, Goldberg V, Parisier H, Bugnard SC, Bur GE. Ovarian lesions due to cytostatic agents during the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1972;134:8268.
14. Ross GT. Congenital anomalies among children born of mothers receiving chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic neoplasms. Cancer 1976;37:10437.
15. Schilsky RL, Lewis BJ, Sherins RJ, Young RC. Gonadal dysfunction in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer. Ann Intern Med 1980;93:10914.
16. Rubery ED. Return of fertility after curative chemotherapy for disseminated teratoma of testis. Lancet 1983;1:186.
17. Shalet SM, Vaughan Williams CA, Whitehead E. Pregnancy after chemotherapy induced ovarian failure. Br Med J 1985;290:898.
18. Gershenson DM. Menstrual and reproductive function after treatment with combination chemotherapy for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. J Clin Oncol 1988;6:2705.
19. Rustin GJS, Booth M, Dent J, Salt S, Rustin F, Bagshawe KD. Pregnancy after cytotoxic chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic tumours. Br Med J 1984;288:1036.
20. Nicholson HO. Cytotoxic drugs in pregnancy: review of reported cases. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw 1968;75:30712.
21. Dobbing J. Pregnancy and leukaemia. Lancet 1977;1:1155.
    
    

Questions and Answers

Why is Grapefruit not recommended with Chemotherapy drugs, such as Vinblastine?, I've just come across a couple of articles on internet which state that Grapefruit should not be used with those drugs, especially Vinblastine. I wonder how many people do know this. Do oncologists warn patients about it? Also, what does it do? Does it diminish the drug effect, or increases it. Grapefruit is famous for both, regarding other medications.

This is my biggest complaint about oncologists. With all the degrees on the wall, there are few who can provide information or warnings about juices, supplements, natural remedies interacting with cancer drugs.

The answer is in databases provided by large companies like vitamin world. Walk into any large mall that has vitamin world or other. These databases are a wealth of info that can help you make treatment more effective and avoid degrading the effectiveness of cancer treatments because of interactions with your supplements, juices, or natural remedies.

How do you extract vincristine/vinblastine from the Madagscar Periwinkle?,

There are used several methods:
Supercritical Fluid Extraction ( yield about 76% )
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/cpb/...

Use of an organ culture:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4831133...
http://www.actahort.org/books/447/447_29...

Extraction with solvent combined with semi-synthetic ( enzymatic ) production process:
http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:qHd...
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4918011...
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-b...

when was vinblastine patented and by which pharmceutical company?,

I dont know if this might help, havnt got time to check all the links

http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects200...

Vinblastine drugs that assemble microtubule?, Vinblastine is a drug that interferes with the assembly if microtubules. It is widely used for chemotheraphyin treating cancer patients. Suggest a hypothesis to explain how vinblastine slows tumour growth by inhibiting cell division.

thank you 5 star to anyone who can assist me!!

Microtubules are very important during cell division. If the assembly is disrupted, the cell can not go past metaphase. The microtubules help the chromosomes line up during metaphase. If this phase is interrupted the cell can not finish division. Since cancer cells are cells that basically proliferate nonstop, the interruption of the microtubules will stop the cancer cells from proliferating.

Hope that helps a little.

list the names of the companies producing vinblastine and vincristine from cathranthus roseus?, herbal pharmacuetical companies

Vincristine, which is marketed as Oncovin by Eli Lilly, has a serum half-life of about 85 hours. It's used mainly to treat acute leukemia, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Hodgkin's disease and other lymphomas.

Vinorelbine is currently in Phase II clinical trials as a treatment for ovarian cancer. It will be marketed as Navelbine by Glaxo Wellcome, Inc., if the trials are successful and the FDA approves the drug.

Has anyone else developed Raynaud's after chemotherapy?? Particularly after Bleomycin or Vinblastine?, I finished ABVD for Hodgkins Lymphoma in early April and throughout treatment i experienced minimal tingling in my hands and feet which was no huge deal. Now 4 months on i have started getting awfully numb, white hands that later turn red/purple and throb - I have been told I have Raynaud's, and after doing a little research i see that chemotherapy drugs can cause it, but it's usually an instant reaction, or at least sooner that four months post chemo.

Just wondering if anyone else out there has developed such a thing so long after chemo?? Yes of course i am going to talk to my oncologist about it but i just want to see if there's anyone in a similar situation. Thanks :)

Yes, I feel your pain.

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease in February 2007 and had eight cycles of ABVD chemotherapy. In July, I started developing Raynaud's. It is especially bad in the right hand -- fingers go white and numb, then turn blue and then red. At the time I had developed it, I had been off Bleomycin for about two months (I developed lung problems from the Bleo).

My oncologist blamed the Bleomycin for the Raynaud's. The hand tingling you're describing sounds a little more like neuropathy which would be caused by Vinblastine.

My oncologist said he could give me something for the Raynaud's that could possibly help, but I decided against it -- tired of drugs. He said it isn't dangerous, just annoying.

Do check with your oncologist to make sure nothing is going on, but you're definitely not alone with this side effect.

which active ingredient blastine or vincristine is more used in chemotherapy now a days?, vincristine & vinblastine are most used vinca alkaloids in preparation of drugs used in cancer treatment but one is more popular among pharmacist than other which is that

vincristine oncovin

effect of doxorubicin and viblastine on leukemic cells, What are the effects of doxorubicin and vinblastine on phases of cell cycle such as G0/G1 phase, M phase or G2/M phase for a leukemic patient?

Doxorubicin:
From American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Volume 49, Issue 5, pp. 832-841, 05/01/1996
Our results suggest that anthracycline-induced cytotoxicity is cell cycle dependent and is mediated, at least in part, by disturbance of the regulation of p34cdc2/cyclin B1 complex, thus leading to G2/M phase arrest.

Vinblastine is M phase dependent, as it inhibits microtubule formation, and microtubules are important during mitosis.

PLS HELP--do these CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS cause hair loss-thx a lot?, DTIC- bleomyiens- vinblastine- adriamyrin -predmione not sure i spelled corectly---thx a lot

Chemotherapy acts by killing cells that divide rapidly, one of the main properties of cancer cells. This means that it also harms cells that divide rapidly under normal circumstances: cells in the bone marrow, digestive tract and hair follicles; this results in the most common side-effects of chemotherapy–myelosuppression (decreased production of blood cells), mucositis (inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract) and alopecia (hair loss).
Please see Google search for more details on Chemotherapy and hair loss.