Summary of Use during Lactation

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal high-dose antineoplastic drug therapy. The manufacturer recommends that women not breastfeed during treatment with topotecan and for 1 week after the last dose. Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.[1] Women who receive chemotherapy during pregnancy are more likely to have difficulty nursing their infant.[2]

Drug Levels

Topotecan appears to be actively transported into breastmilk by multidrug transporter BCRP, which is encoded by ABCG2.[3]

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

References

1.

Urbaniak C, McMillan A, Angelini M, et al. Effect of chemotherapy on the microbiota and metabolome of human milk, a case report. Microbiome. 2014;2:24. [PMC free article: PMC4109383] [PubMed: 25061513]

2.

Stopenski S, Aslam A, Zhang X, et al. After chemotherapy treatment for maternal cancer during pregnancy, is breastfeeding possible? Breastfeed Med. 2017;12:91–7. [PubMed: 28170295]

3.

Jonker JW, Merino G, Musters S, et al. The breast cancer resistance protein BCRP (ABCG2) concentrates drugs and carcinogenic xenotoxins into milk. Nat Med. 2005;11:127–9. [PubMed: 15685169]

Substance Name

Topotecan

CAS Registry Number

123948-87-8

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Antineoplastic Agents

Topoisomerase I Inhibitors