title: Physical and chemical stability of pemetrexed solutions in plastic syringes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pemetrexed is a multitargeted antifolate antineoplastic agent that is indicated for single-agent use in advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer and in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma not treatable by surgery. Currently, there is no information on the long-term stability of pemetrexed solutions beyond 24 hours.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the stability of pemetrexed reconstituted with NaCl 0.9% injection to a concentration of 25 mg/mL and packaged in polypropylene syringes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Triplicate samples of reconstituted pemetrexed 25 mg/mL were packaged in 20-mL polypropylene syringes and evaluated for physical and chemical stability performed initially and over 2 days of storage at 23 degrees C and over 31 days of storage at 4 degrees C. Physical stability was assessed using turbidimetric and particulate measurement, as well as visual observation. Chemical stability was evaluated by HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reconstituted pemetrexed solutions remained physically and chemically stable throughout the respective study periods, with no precipitation or color change and little or no loss of pemetrexed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pemetrexed reconstituted with NaCl 0.9% to a concentration of 25 mg/mL packaged in polypropylene syringes was found to be stable for 2 days at room temperature and 31 days refrigerated.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Laboratory, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Yanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Trissel
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D005079:Excipients; D005971:Glutamates / Q000737:chemistry*; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D010316:Particle Size; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D010969:Plastics; D013594:Syringes
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005079:Excipients; D005971:Glutamates; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D010969:Plastics; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine