title: Intrahepatic arterial administration of 4'epidoxorubicin (epirubicin) in advanced cancer patients. A pharmacokinetic study.
abstract: Epirubicin (epiDX) pharmacokinetics was followed in 10 advanced cancer patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma or primary liver tumor after single bolus administration (20-40 mg) in the hepatic artery, through a surgically implanted catheter and subcutaneous access port. EpiDX plasma and whole blood concentrations follow a triphasic decay qualitatively similar to that observed after IV administration. Blood levels are consistently higher than plasma levels. Plasma clearance (nine patients, mean: 93.4 l/hr; range: 69.3-129.5 l/hr) is higher than the corresponding parameter determined in patients with hepatic metastases after intravenous therapy. The remaining patient is characterised by an abnormally low plasma clearance (13.6 l/hr), due to a hepato-pulmonary shunt. The subjects in this study were exposed to very low drug concentrations, and therefore experienced no relevant adverse side-effects.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pannuti
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Camaggi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strocchi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Comparsi
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Angelelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franchini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D015251:Epirubicin; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007700:Kinetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D004317:Doxorubicin