title: Etoposide: a pharmacokinetic profile including an assessment of bioavailability.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of intravenous etoposide (50-150 mg m-2) have been studied in 17 patients. Bioavailability studies on either the capsule or intravenous (i.v.) formulation were performed in 13 patients, 7 of whom received both oral formulations given in the dose range 50-250 mg m-2. After i.v. administration the mean +/- SD half-lives were t1/2 alpha 0.62 +/- 1.01 h and t1/2 beta 6.04 +/- 2.5 h. The bioavailability of etoposide was extremely variable: for the capsule it was 38 +/- 14% (range 10-55) and for the i.v. formulation it was 53 +/- 25% (range 31-88). The i.v. formulation was not significantly better than the capsule. The results confirm the low and variable bioavailability of oral etoposide.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001682:Biological Availability; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D011034:Podophyllotoxin