Intrathoracic injection of paclitaxel for a patient with stage IV serous ovarian cancer: a case report.
BACKGROUND
There have so far only been few reports on the intrathoracic injection (IT) of paclitaxel for ovarian cancer.


METHODS
The patient was treated with IT paclitaxel to control a large volume of pleural effusion as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A total of 220 mg (110 mg in each thoracic cavity) of paclitaxel was administrated and the pleural effusion dramatically decreased. The intrathoracic concentration of paclitaxel was 1,524.0, 107.5, 8.1, 11.0 and 3.8 microm/l at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. The plasma concentration was 0.05, 0.11, 0.07, 0.04 and 0.02 microm/l, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
An extremely high concentration was maintained over 96 h and there was slight transition into general circulation following IT administration. IT paclitaxel might be effective in some patients with ovarian serous adenocarcinoma who have a refractory tumor in the thoracic cavity.
Mitamura
Takashi
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. pikarun2620@jcom.home.ne.jp
Hosaka
Masayoshi
M
Takeda
Mahito
M
Watari
Hidemichi
H
Sakuragi
Noriaki
N
D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000188:drug therapy; D013909:Thorax; D013997:Time Factors
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel