Yondelis

Generic name: Trabectedin

Drug class: Alkylating agents

Dosage forms: Powder for Injection

Root of administration: Intravenous (IV)

Dose: 0.25, 1 mg

Mechanism of action: Yondelis (trabectedin) exerts its anticancer effects through a complex mechanism of action involving multiple pathways. DNA Binding: Yondelis binds to the minor groove of DNA, causing structural changes and interfering with DNA repair mechanisms. This binding inhibits the activity of DNA-dependent enzymes, such as DNA polymerases and topoisomerases, which are essential for DNA replication and repair. Transcription Inhibition: Yondelis disrupts the transcription process by binding to transcription factors and inhibiting their activity. This interference leads to the inhibition of the transcription of various genes involved in cell growth, proliferation, and survival. Cell Cycle Arrest: Yondelis induces cell cycle arrest by affecting multiple phases of the cell cycle, including G2-M phase arrest. This disruption of the cell cycle prevents cancer cells from dividing and proliferating. Apoptosis Induction: Yondelis promotes programmed cell death, known as apoptosis, in cancer cells. It triggers signals that activate apoptotic pathways, leading to the self-destruction of cancer cells.

Drug usage cases: Yondelis is used to treat liposarcoma, a rare type of cancer that grows in fatty tissues of the body. Yondelis is also used to treat leiomyosarcoma, a rare fast-growing type of cancer that grows in many tissues of the body, including fat, muscle, bone, joints, and blood vessels. Yondelis is used to treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be treated with surgery.

Drug contra indications: You should not be treated with Yondelis if you are allergic to trabectedin. Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

liver disease; heart disease; or kidney disease.

Side effects: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Yondelis: hives; chest tightness, wheezing, difficult breathing; feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Capillary leak syndrome is a rare but serious side effect of trabectedin. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of this condition: stuffy or runny nose followed by weakness or tired feeling, and sudden swelling in your arms, legs and other parts of the body. Call your doctor at once if you have:

pain, burning, irritation, or skin changes where the injection was given; heart problems – chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain; breakdown of muscle tissue – unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine); liver problems – nausea, upper stomach pain, confusion, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or low blood cell counts – fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath. Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Warnings: Yondelis affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have a fever, mouth sores, skin sores, sore throat, cough, or trouble breathing.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding: Yondelis can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or the father is taking this medicine. If you are a woman, do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 2 months after your last dose. If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 5 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using Yondelis. You should not breast-feed while using trabectedin.