title: Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and adherence to oral topotecan in myelodysplastic syndromes: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate medication adherence, pharmacokinetics and exposure versus response relationships in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety adult patients with MDS received oral topotecan (1.2 mg/m2) either once a day for 10 days or twice a day for 5 days every 21 days for up to six cycles. Dosing histories were collected using electronic monitoring devices fitted to medication vials. Topotecan plasma concentrations were measured, and exposure was determined by a sparse sampling approach and Bayesian estimation methods. Relationships between exposure and clinical response and toxicity were evaluated using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall adherence was excellent with 90% of patients taking the prescribed number of doses in cycle 1. Adherence did not differ between the two regimens. Topotecan pharmacokinetics were described using a one compartment open model with first order absorption and elimination. Pharmacokinetic parameter estimates did not differ between the once a day and twice a day dosing groups. While topotecan exposure was greater in the twice a day arm compared to the once a day arm due to drug accumulation, exposure did not correlate with clinical response. However, the probability of needing a platelet transfusion in the twice a day arm was significantly increased (by 35%) as a result of greater steady-state plasma topotecan concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adherence is high in patients with MDS receiving oral topotecan, whether the drug is prescribed once or twice daily. The optimal schedule cannot be determined from this study, as there was no evident relationship between any pharmacokinetic parameter and clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street (MC 865), Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Cheri E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kastrissios
authors.forename: Antonius A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: Daohai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Rosner
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Grinblatt
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ratain
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan