Pharmacokinetic study of paclitaxel in malignant ascites from advanced gastric cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the paclitaxel concentrations in plasma and ascites after its intravenous administration in patients with ascites due to peritonitis carcinomatosa resulting from advanced gastric cancer.


METHODS
Two patients with ascites due to peritonitis carcinomatosa resulting from gastric cancer were included in this study. The paclitaxel concentrations in plasma and ascites were investigated for 72 h in case 1 and 168 h in case 2 after intravenous administration.


RESULTS
The paclitaxel concentration in plasma peaked immediately after administration, followed by rapid decrease below the threshold value of 0.1 micromol (85 ng/mL) within 24 h. In contrast,the paclitaxel concentration in ascites increased gradually for 24 h after administration to a level consistent with the level found in plasma. After 24 h the level of paclitaxel in ascites and plasma became similar, with the optimal level being maintained up to 72 h following administration.


CONCLUSIONS
The concentration of paclitaxel in ascites is maintained within the optimal level for the treatment of cancer cells for up to 72 h after intravenous administration. Paclitaxel is a promising drug for the treatment of malignant ascites of gastric cancer.
Department of Tumor Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu, Nankoku 783-8505, Japan. kobayasm@kochi-ms.ac.jp
Michiya
M
Kobayashi
Junichi
J
Sakamoto
Tsutomu
T
Namikawa
Ken
K
Okamoto
Takehiro
T
Okabayashi
Kengo
K
Ichikawa
Keijiro
K
Araki
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel