title: Plasma and salivary pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving 5-FU bolus plus continuous infusion with high-dose folinic acid.
abstract: The comparative saliva/plasma pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were investigated in 21 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving high-dose folinic acid (LV (leucovorin) 200 mg/m2) followed by 5-FU bolus (400 mg/m2) and continuous infusion (600, 750, 900 or 1200 mg/m2) on days 1 and 2. Quantitation of unchanged drug was assessed by a highly specific high-performance liquid chromatographic method. Large patient-to-patient variations in plasma and saliva 5-FU concentrations were observed. Saliva pharmacokinetics could be described using a bi-exponential pattern. The half-life of the rapid phase averaged 8.0 min, and was of the same order of magnitude as the 5-FU elimination half-life determined from plasma data. The half-life of the terminal part of the curve averaged 8 h; such decrease in salivary concentrations could be due to changes in salivary gland function caused by 5-FU, which results in reduced salivary flow rate. Between individual 5-FU concentrations in parotid saliva and plasma a statistically significant straight line could be fitted with a coefficient of correlation of 0.675. Moreover, the risk of developing 5-FU-related mucositis was significantly linked to 5-FU salivary exposure. Diarrhoea was the most frequent toxicity encountered during the trial.
authors.affiliation: Departement d'Onco-Pharmacologie, Centre Régional de Lutte contre le cancer, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Joulia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinguet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ychou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duffour
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Astre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bressolle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil