title: Pharmacologically based dosing of etoposide: a means of safely increasing dose intensity.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that individualized dosing of etoposide (VP16) by 72-hour infusion is feasible and that the extent of leukopenia is a function of plasma concentration, pretreatment WBC (WBCp), albumin (ALB), performance status (PS), and bone marrow function (based on transfusion requirements). In the current study, 45 patients were randomized between a fixed dose of VP16 (125 mg/m2/d) versus individualized dosing to a target WBC nadir (WBCN) of 1,700/microL. The total dose was increased by an average of 22% in the latter patients (459 +/- 130 mg/m2 v 375 mg/m2, P = .002). This was associated with a decrease in both the mean WBCN (1,510 +/- 950 v 2,500 +/- 1,420/microL, P = .013) and in the variability of the WBCN (P = .039). The VP16 clearance (mL/min) was not correlated with body surface area. Partial responses were observed in one patient each with hepatoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We conclude that pharmacologically based dosing may be a means of increasing dose intensity without increasing the incidence of life-threatening toxicity due to a decrease in variability around a target WBC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, IL.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ratain
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mick
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schilsky
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Vogelzang
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berezin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D005047:Etoposide