DESCRIPTIONS
Gemcitabine is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. It acts by interfering with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
This medicine is used to treat pancreatic cancer, particularly when it has metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body (Stage IVB). In combination with the drug cisplatin, gemcitabine is the first-line treatment for inoperable, metastasized non-small cell lung cancer.
Sometimes it is also used to treat cancers of the bladder or breast, or epithelial ovarian cancer.
GemzarÒ (gemcitabine HCl) is a nucleoside analogue that exhibits antitumor activity. Gemcitabine HCl is 2´-deoxy-2´, 2´-difluorocytidine monohydrochloride (b-isomer). The structural formula is as follows:
The empirical formula for gemcitabine HCl is C9H11F2N3O4กค HCl. It has a molecular weight of 299.66.
The CAS number for Gemcitabine: CAS:95058-81-4
Gemcitabine HCl is a white to off-white solid. It is soluble in water, slightly soluble in methanol, and practically insoluble in ethanol and polar organic solvents.
The clinical formulation is supplied in a sterile form for intravenous use only. Vials of Gemzar contain either 200 mg or 1 g of gemcitabine HCl (expressed as free base) formulated with mannitol (200 mg or 1 g, respectively) and sodium acetate (12.5 mg or 62.5 mg, respectively) as a sterile lyophilized powder. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may have been added for pH adjustment.
