Determinants of the elimination of methotrexate and 7-hydroxy-methotrexate following high-dose infusional therapy to cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize determinants of the elimination of methotrexate (MTX) and 7-hydroxy-methotrexate (7-OH-MTX) in patients receiving high-dose MTX therapy (HDMTX).


METHODS
24 and 48-h blood samples from 76 patients receiving HDMTX (dose range 300 mg m-2 to 12 g m-2) were analysed, and concentration-time data were subjected to population pharmacokinetic and covariate analysis using nonlinear mixed-effect modelling (NONMEM).


RESULTS
Treatment-related mortality was 1.3% (one patient with renal failure). Values for MTX clearance (CLMTX) and 7-OH-MTX clearance (CL7-OH-MTX) were estimated at 8.85 and 2 L-1, respectively. Baseline creatinine clearance correlated with CLMTX and CL7-OH-MTX. Concurrent administration of benzimidazoles led to a 27% decrease in CLMTX and a 39% decrease in CL7-OH-MTX. Prior administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) resulted in a 16% decrease in CLMTX and a 38% decrease in CL7-OH-MTX. Plasma MTX concentrations were significantly higher in patients also receiving benzimidazoles at 24 h (2.01 micromol L-1vs. 0.66 micromol L-1, P<10(-4)) and at 48 h (0.25 micromol L-1vs. 0.12 micromol L-1, P<10(-4)). 7-OH-MTX plasma concentrations were also significantly higher in patients with concurrent benzimidazoles as compared with patients without benzimidazoles at 24 h (4.47 micromol L-1vs. 2.52 micromol L-1, P=0.0009) and at 48 h (1.11 micromol L-1vs. 0.72 micromol L-1, P=0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients receiving HDMTX, concurrent administration of benzimidazoles was associated with a significant decrease of CLMTX and CL7-OH-MTX, resulting in significantly higher plasma concentrations of MTX and 7-OH-MTX. The data suggest that benzimidazole treatment should be seen as a relative contraindication for HDMTX.
Joerger
M
M
Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Slotervaart Hospital/The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, and Department of Biomedical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. apmsj@slz.nl
Huitema
A D R
AD
van den Bongard
H J G D
HJ
Baas
P
P
Schornagel
J H
JH
Schellens
J H M
JH
Beijnen
J H
JH
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D008727:Methotrexate