title: Population pharmacokinetics of low-dose paclitaxel in patients with brain tumors.
abstract: Our aim was to assess the pharmacokinetics of a low-dose schedule of paclitaxel in combination with radiation therapy in patients with brain tumors. Eighteen patients received 20-50 mg/m2 paclitaxel as a 1-h infusion 18-24 h before radiation with 2 Gy on 5 consecutive days. In total, 156 plasma samples from 13 patients and 38 urine samples from nine patients were collected and analyzed by a validated capillary electrophoresis method. Data analysis was done using NONMEM with a two-compartmental model and proportional error model. No signs of non-linearity in the pharmacokinetic parameters were observed in this dosing range. The median cumulative urinary excretion was 2.4% (range 0.86-7.72%) of the given dose. Plasma clearance was found to be 6.71 l/h+/-70% and central volume of distribution was 3.64 l+/-79% (population mean +/- interindividual variability, respectively). At the time of the radiation, i.e. 24 h after administration with the lowest dose of 20 mg/m2, the mean concentration of paclitaxel was 0.038 mg/l (0.045 microM) in plasma. We conclude that even with the lowest dose of 20 mg/m2 paclitaxel, plasma concentrations at the time of radiation are achieved which are radiosensitizing in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinderheilkunde (Pädiatrische Hämatologie/Onkologie), Münster, Germany. hempege@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hempel
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rübe
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mosler
authors.forename: Marlies
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wienstroer
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagner-Bohn
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuck
authors.forename: Normann
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Willich
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel