title: Pharmacokinetic interaction between etoposide and tamoxifen in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: The effect of tamoxifen (TAM) on the pharmacokinetics of oral administration of etoposide (VP-16) in patients with nonoperable hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated. The pharmacokinetics of VP-16 was studied by using a validated limited sampling strategy. The pharmacokinetic parameters of VP-16, such as area under curve (AUC), free AUC and protein binding, were determined from drug plasma concentrations at 1 and 4 h after VP-16 administration on the first day (day -1) and at the end of the chemotherapy cycle (day -21) for VP-16 alone and VP-16+TAM, respectively. When VP-16 was administered in association with TAM, the median total systemic exposure was not significantly (p = NS) different from that observed when VP-16 was administered alone [33.74 (range 11.19-56.58) versus 32.97 (range 20.23-119.28) mg/l/h]. Moreover, TAM did not affect significantly (p = NS) the levels of protein binding of VP-16 [median 94.6 (range 87.7-98.2) versus median 94.9 (range 91.6-98.0)% for VP-16+TAM and VP-16 alone, respectively] and the systemic exposure of the free drug (free AUC) [1.86 (range 0.21-4.57) versus median 1.78 (range 0.59-3.73) mg/l/h for VP-16+TAM and VP = 16 alone, respectively]. These results indicate a lack of pharmacokinetic interaction between VP-16 and TAM, and suggest that the increased hematological toxicity observed when TAM is given in combination with VP-16 could be related to pharmacodynamic interactions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Oncology 1, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aita
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorio
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Colussi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bearz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sartor
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boiocchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toffoli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D019540:Area Under Curve; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011485:Protein Binding; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D013629:Tamoxifen; D005047:Etoposide