title: Experimental antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics of the camptothecin analog irinotecan (CPT-11) in mice.
abstract: Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a semi-synthetic derivative of camptothecin currently in clinical trials. In vitro, CPT-11 presented preferential cytotoxicity toward some solid tumor cells (mouse colon 38 and pancreas 03; human pancreas MIA PaCa-2) as compared to leukemia cells (L1210), whereas SN-38, a metabolite of CPT-11, was not solid tumor selective. In vivo, schedule of administration studies in P388 leukemia and mammary adenocarcinoma 16/C (MA16/C) showed that CPT-11 was not markedly schedule dependent. In order to determine its spectrum of anticancer activity, CPT-11 was evaluated against a variety of mouse and human tumors. The end points used were total log cell kill (Lck) for solid tumors and increase in life span (% ILS) for leukemia. Intravenous CPT-11 was found highly active against both early and advanced stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 03 (P03), with 60% long-term survivors and 100% complete regressions, respectively. Other responsive tumors included: colon adenocarcinomas 38 and 51 (both 1.0 Lck); MA16/C (3.4 Lck); MA13/C (1.0 Lck); human Calc18 breast adenocarcinoma (2.8 Lck); Glasgow osteogenic sarcoma (1.8 Lck); Lewis lung carcinoma (1.4 Lck); B16 melanoma (1.4 Lck); P388 leukemia (170% ILS) and L1210 leukemia (64% ILS). Of interest, CPT-11 was active against tumors with acquired resistance to vincristine (P388/Vcr), to doxorubicin (P388/Dox) and to docetaxel (Calc18/TXT). CPT-11 was also found highly active after oral administration in mice bearing P03 and MA16/C tumors. Pharmacokinetic evaluations performed i.v. at the highest non-toxic dosage in mice bearing P03 tumors revealed CPT-11 peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of 8.9 micrograms/ml and a terminal half-life of 0.6 h. The metabolite SN-38 plasma concentrations presented a Cmax of 1.6 micrograms/ml and a terminal half-life of 7.4 h. Although the CPT-11 tumor levels were similar to the plasma concentrations for early time points, drug levels decreased more slowly in the tumor compared to plasma (half-life, 5.0 h). SN-38 tumor levels reached concentrations in the range of 0.32-0.34 micrograms/g and decayed with a half-life of 6.9 h. No significant difference in plasma or tumor pharmacokinetics of either CPT-11 or SN-38 were noted after one or five daily i.v. injections. Overall, these data show that CPT-11 has good activity in experimental models, when administered both by the i.v. and the oral routes. Compared to humans, a similar schedule of administration independence was observed and similar CPT-11 levels could be reached at efficacious dosages although metabolite SN-38 levels were found higher in mice.
authors.affiliation: Rhône-Poulenc Rorer SA, Centre de Recherche de Vitry-Alfortville, Vitry Sur Seine, France.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bissery
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vrignaud
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lavelle
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Chabot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D043823:Taxoids; D014750:Vincristine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D014750:Vincristine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D004317:Doxorubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002166:Camptothecin