Trabectedin
/api/v1/drug/trabectedinMechanism of action
Sourced from openFDATrabectedin is an alkylating drug that binds guanine residues in the minor groove of DNA, forming adducts and resulting in a bending of the DNA helix towards the major groove. Adduct formation triggers a cascade of events that can affect the subsequent activity of DNA binding proteins, including some transcription factors, and DNA repair pathways, resulting in perturbation of the cell cycle and eventual cell death.
Indications
Sourced from openFDA- YONDELIS ® is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma who received a prior anthracycline-containing regimen [see Clinical Studies (14) ] .
Contraindications
Sourced from openFDA- YONDELIS is contraindicated in patients with known severe hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, to trabectedin.contraindicated
Dosage & administration
Sourced from openFDAAdminister at 1.5 mg/m 2 as a 24-hour intravenous infusion, every 3 weeks through a central venous line ( 2.1 , 2.6 ) Premedication: dexamethasone 20 mg intravenously, 30 min before each infusion ( 2.3 ) Hepatic Impairment: Administer at 0.9 mg/m 2 as a 24-hour intravenous infusion, every 3 weeks through a central venous line in patients with moderate hepatic impairment ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage The recommended dose is 1.5 mg/m 2 administered as an intravenous infusion over 24 hours through a central venous line every 21 days (3 weeks), until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 2.2 Recommended Dosage in Patients with Hepatic Impairment The recommended dosage of YONDELIS in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (bilirubin levels greater than 1.5 times to 3 times the upper limit of normal, and AST and ALT less than 8 times the upper limit of normal) is 0.9 mg/m 2 every 21 days (3 weeks). Do not administer YONDELIS to patients with severe hepatic impairment (bilirubin levels above 3 times the upper limit of normal, and any AST and ALT) [ see Use in Specific Populations (8.6) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 2.3 Premedication Administer dexamethasone 20 mg intravenously 30 minutes prior to each dose of YONDELIS. 2.4 Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions Permanently discontinue YONDELIS for: Persistent adverse reactions requiring a delay in dosing of more than 3 weeks.
Warnings & precautions
Sourced from openFDANeutropenic sepsis: Severe, and fatal, neutropenic sepsis may occur. Monitor neutrophil count during treatment. Withhold YONDELIS for neutrophil count < 1,500/mcL ( 2.4 , 5.1 ) Rhabdomyolysis: Rhabdomyolysis may occur. Monitor creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels prior to each administration. Withhold YONDELIS for CPK more than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal. ( 2.4 , 5.2 ) Hepatotoxicity: Hepatotoxicity may occur. Monitor and delay and/or reduce dose if needed ( 5.3 ) Cardiomyopathy: Severe and fatal cardiomyopathy can occur. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < lower limit of normal, prior cumulative anthracycline dose of ≥300 mg/m 2 , age ≥65 years, or a history of cardiovascular disease may be at increased risk of developing new or worsening cardiac dysfunction. Discontinue YONDELIS in patients who develop decreased LVEF or cardiomyopathy ( 2.4 , 5.4 ) Capillary leak syndrome: Monitor and discontinue YONDELIS for capillary leak syndrome ( 5.5 ) Embryo-fetal toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise of potential risk to a fetus and use effective contraception ( 5.7 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) 5.1 Neutropenic Sepsis Neutropenic sepsis, including fatal cases, can occur with YONDELIS. In Trial ET743-SAR-3007, the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, based on laboratory values, in patients receiving YONDELIS was 43% (161/378). The median time to the first occurrence of Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was 16 days (range: 8 days to 9.7 months); the median time to complete resolution of neutropenia was 13 days (range: 3 days to 2.3 months).
Adverse reactions
Sourced from openFDAThe following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling: Anaphylaxis [see Contraindications (4) ] Neutropenic Sepsis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Rhabdomyolysis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Cardiomyopathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Capillary Leak Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Extravasation Resulting in Tissue Necrosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions are nausea, fatigue, vomiting, constipation, decreased appetite, diarrhea, peripheral edema, dyspnea, and headache. The most common (≥5%) grades 3–4 laboratory abnormalities are: neutropenia, increased ALT, thrombocytopenia, anemia, increased AST, and increased creatine phosphokinase. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Janssen Products, LP at 1-800-526-7736 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The data described below reflect exposure to YONDELIS in 755 patients with soft tissue sarcoma including 197 (26%) patients exposed to YONDELIS for greater than or equal to 6 months and 57 (8%) patients exposed to YONDELIS for greater than or equal to 1 year.
Use in specific populations
Sourced from openFDALactation: Advise not to breastfeed ( 8.2 ) Hepatic Impairment: Do not administer YONDELIS to patients with severe hepatic impairment ( 8.6 , 12.3 ) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on its mechanism of action, trabectedin can cause fetal harm when administered during pregnancy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ] . There are no available data with the use of YONDELIS during pregnancy. Animal reproductive and developmental studies at relevant doses have not been conducted with trabectedin; however, placental transfer of trabectedin was demonstrated in pregnant rats. Advise pregnant woman of the potential risk to a fetus. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population are unknown; however, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2 to 4% and of miscarriage is 15 to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies. 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There are no data on the presence of trabectedin in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from YONDELIS in a breastfed child, advise a nursing woman to discontinue nursing during treatment with and for 3 months after the last dose of YONDELIS.
Pharmacokinetics
Sourced from openFDA- Metabolism
- The pharmacokinetics of trabectedin is characterized by a rapid decline phase at the end of the infusion and slower exponential phases. Population pharmacokinetic analyses suggest that the pharmacokinetics of trabectedin is dose-proportional (over the dose range of 0.024 to 1.8 mg/m 2 ) and exposure is time-independent.
Overdosage
Sourced from openFDAThere is no specific antidote for YONDELIS. Hemodialysis is not expected to enhance the elimination of YONDELIS because trabectedin is highly bound to plasma proteins (97%) and not significantly renally excreted.
Approval history
Sourced from openFDA- Oct 23, 2015NDANDA207953Janssen Prods
FAERS reports
- 1Neutropenia24411%
- 2Anaemia2109.3%
- 3Nausea1988.8%
- 4Thrombocytopenia1988.8%
- 5Febrile Neutropenia1597.0%
- 6Pancytopenia1566.9%
- 7Vomiting1496.6%
- 8Off Label Use1366.0%
- 9Rhabdomyolysis1305.8%
- 10Alanine Aminotransferase Increased1245.5%
- 11Disease Progression1225.4%
- 12Aspartate Aminotransferase Increased1054.6%
- 13Asthenia1044.6%
- 14Pyrexia1024.5%
- 15Acute Kidney Injury984.3%
Literature
Recent PubMed references pinned to Trabectedin as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- A randomized clinical study comparing trabectedin combined with regional hyperthermia with trabectedin in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma: HyperTET, a German Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Group trial.ESMO open · 2026 · Schuebbe GE, Xu Y, Lindner LH, et al.PMID 41962307DOI 10.1016/j.esmoop.2026.106921
- Trabectedin in the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma: Real-world data on effectiveness, safety, and financial implications from a European comprehensive cancer center.International journal of cancer · 2026 · Giraud JS, Watson S, Acramel A, et al.PMID 41735186DOI 10.1002/ijc.70403
- Trabectedin plus CD13-targeted tissue factor tTF-NGR against advanced relapsed or refractory soft tissue sarcoma: translational data, clinical safety and efficacy.Scientific reports · 2026 · Hessling K, Brand C, Schwöppe C, et al.PMID 41714802DOI 10.1038/s41598-026-40362-4
- Trabectedin-olaparib combination or trabectedin in advanced soft tissue sarcomas after failure of anthracycline-based treatment (TOMAS2): a randomized phase II study from the Italian Sarcoma Group.Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology · 2026 · D'Ambrosio L, Merlini A, Brunello A, et al.PMID 41354211DOI 10.1016/j.annonc.2025.11.019
- Trabectedin-irinotecan as a potential therapeutic option in desmoplastic small round cell tumor: A small case series.Tumori · 2025 · Ferrari A, Chiaravalli S, Ferrari Bravo W, et al.PMID 41208282DOI 10.1177/03008916251390668
- Recent advances in the Total synthesis and structural modification of Ecteinascidin-743.Bioorganic chemistry · 2025 · Yang Y, Guo J, Liu Y, et al.PMID 41056653DOI 10.1016/j.bioorg.2025.109047
- The DNA Minor Groove Binders Trabectedin and Lurbinectedin Are Potent Antitumor Agents in Human Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025 · Gäbele E, Gigante I, Pastore M, et al.PMID 41009648DOI 10.3390/ijms26189085
- Relative Dose Intensity of Trabectedin and Outcome of Advanced L-Sarcomas.Cancer medicine · 2025 · Poitureau S, Le Deley MC, Brahmi M, et al.PMID 40827456DOI 10.1002/cam4.71131
Clinical trials
The 10 most recently updated of 111 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Trabectedin as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.
- Testing Olaparib and Temozolomide Versus the Usual Treatment for Uterine Leiomyosarcoma After Chemotherapy Has Stopped WorkingActive not recruiting · Phase 2 · Phase 3 · Interventional · 74 enrolled · National Cancer Institute (NCI)NCT05432791updated 2026-06-01
- Ablative Therapy of Oligometastatic Tumor After Response to Conventional First Line TreatmentNot yet recruiting · Observational · 1,235 enrolled · ChirecNCT07545486updated 2026-04-22
- Study on Trabectedin in Advanced Rearranged Mesenchymal ChondrosarcomaRecruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 16 enrolled · Italian Sarcoma GroupNCT04305548updated 2026-03-27
- Trial in Patients With Metastatic or Locally Advanced LeiomyosarcomaRecruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 100 enrolled · Italian Sarcoma GroupNCT04383119updated 2026-03-25
- Continuing vs Intermittent Trabectedin in Patients With Advanced Soft Tissue SarcomaCompleted · Phase 2 · Interventional · 53 enrolled · Centre Oscar LambretNCT01303094updated 2026-03-16
- Phase II Decentralized Pragmatic Trial of Adjuvant Doxorubicin - Trabectedin Chemotherapy in uLMSRecruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 48 enrolled · M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterNCT07076186updated 2026-03-10
- Prospective Identification of Predictive Biomarkers of Trabectedin Efficacy in Non-L Soft-tissue Sarcoma PatientsCompleted · Interventional · 29 enrolled · Institut BergoniéNCT04008238updated 2026-03-06
- A Phase I Study of Pazopanib in Combination With Trabectedin, Ipilimumab and Nivolumab (TraPIN) in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients With Recurrent Soft Tissue SarcomasNot yet recruiting · Phase 1 · Interventional · 18 enrolled · M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterNCT07444619updated 2026-03-03
- Study on Trabectedin in Combination With Pioglitazone in Patients Myxoid Liposarcomas With Stable Disease After T Alone.Completed · Phase 2 · Interventional · 10 enrolled · Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological ResearchNCT04794127updated 2026-02-18
- Phase 1 Study of SON-1010 in Adult Patients With Advanced Solid TumorsActive not recruiting · Phase 1 · Interventional · 42 enrolled · Sonnet BioTherapeuticsNCT05352750updated 2026-02-03
Frequently asked questions
- How does Trabectedin work?
- Trabectedin is an alkylating drug that binds guanine residues in the minor groove of DNA, forming adducts and resulting in a bending of the DNA helix towards the major groove. Adduct formation triggers a cascade of events that can affect the subsequent activity of DNA binding proteins, including some transcription factors, and DNA repair pathways, resulting in perturbation of the cell cycle and eventual cell death.
- What is Trabectedin used for?
- According to FDA labeling, Trabectedin carries indications including: YONDELIS ® is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma who received a prior anthracycline-containing regimen [see Clinical Studies (14) ] .. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
- What class of drug is Trabectedin?
- Trabectedin is classified as Other plant alkaloids and natural products, Alkylating Drug, Alkylating Activity, Decreased DNA Integrity.
- What are the brand names for Trabectedin?
- Trabectedin is marketed under brand names including Yondelis.
- What are the contraindications for Trabectedin?
- Trabectedin labeling lists contraindications including: YONDELIS is contraindicated in patients with known severe hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, to trabectedin.. Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.
trabectedin is illustrative MVP content compiled from public sources. pharmacopeia is for educational and informational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.