title: Pharmacokinetics and effects on plasma retinol concentrations of 13-cis-retinoic acid in melanoma patients.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13cisRA) and its effects on retinol plasma levels were investigated after the first and the last doses in melanoma patients, who participated in a study run to assess tolerance over a long period of a treatment schedule of 13cisRA associated with recombinant interferon alpha2a (rIFN-alpha2a). Melanoma patients with regional node metastases after radical surgery were randomized to be treated for 3 months with rIFN-alpha2a, 3 x 10(6) IU s.c. every other day, associated with oral 13cisRA at doses of 20 mg day(-1) (five patients) or 40 mg every other day (seven patients). Maximum 13cisRA blood concentrations usually occurred 4 h after drug administration, with average values of 406 and 633 ng ml(-1) (i.e. 1.3 and 2.1 microM) after the 20 and 40 mg dose respectively. The average half-life (t(1/2)) was approximately 30 h. The maximum concentration, the t(1/2) and the area under the concentration-time curves from 0 to 48 h (AUC(0-48)) of 13cisRA did not change after multiple dosing, whereas the AUC(0-48) of its major blood metabolite, 4-oxo-13-cis-retinoic acid, increased. Immediately after 13cisRA treatment, retinol plasma levels started to decline and they reached the lowest values (approximately 20% reduction) shortly after the time of maximum 13cisRA concentrations (i.e. 4-12 h after drug intake). Afterwards, values returned to baseline. The amount of retinol reduction in time was correlated with 13cisRA maximum concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cavadini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mascheroni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Belli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cascinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D015474:Isotretinoin