Yondelis
Generic name:trabectedin [ tra-BEK-te-din ]
Drug class:Alkylating agents
What is Yondelis?
Yondelis is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
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.
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.
Before taking this medicine
You should not be treated with Yondelis if you are allergic to trabectedin.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
heart disease; or
kidney disease.
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.
How is Yondelis given?
Yondelis is given as an infusion into a vein, through a central line IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Before you receive a dose of trabectedin, you may need a blood test to check your liver function.
Yondelis must be given slowly and the infusion can take up to 24 hours to complete.
Yondelis is usually given once every 3 weeks. Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with trabectedin.
You may be given steroid medication to prevent certain side effects of trabectedin.
Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when Yondelis is injected.
Trabectedin affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Your doctor will need to examine you on a regular basis.
Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).
