Drug residues in serum of dogs receiving anticancer chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The presence of drug residues in blood samples can represent an occupational hazard. However, studies on cytotoxic drug residues in serum of dogs are lacking in veterinary oncology.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate possible occupational hazards associated with handling of blood samples from dogs receiving oncolytic drugs 7 days after treatment.


METHODS
Twenty-seven client-owned dogs treated for lymphoma or mast cell tumors with vincristine, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, or doxorubicin.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study. Serum samples were either taken 7 days after administration of vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (lymphoma), and vinblastine (mast cell tumor), or 1-2 days after the last concurrent oral administration of cyclophosphamide (mast cell tumor). Additionally, serum was collected within 5 minutes of treatment. Measurement of drug residues in serum was performed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).


RESULTS
In 33 samples collected within 5 minute of treatment, the median serum concentrations were vincristine: 37 microg/L (range: 11-87 microg/L), vinblastine: 13 microg/L (range: 13-35 microg/L), cyclophosphamide: 2,484 microg/L (range: 1,209-2,778 microg/L), doxorubicin: 404 microg/L (range: 234-528 microg/L). In 81 serum samples collected 7 days after treatment vinblastine (7 microg/L) was detected in 1 sample, and cyclophosphamide (7 and 9 microg/L) in 2 samples collected 1-2 days after oral administration of cyclophosphamide. Medications were not detected in any of the other samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Handling of blood samples from dogs receiving oncolytic chemotherapy 7 days after treatment with vincristine, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin should not present a health hazard.
Knobloch
A
A
Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany.
Mohring
S A I
SA
Eberle
N
N
Nolte
I
I
Hamscher
G
G
Simon
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D012515:Mast-Cell Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018634:Veterinarians
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents