title: Pharmacokinetics, placenta, and brain uptake of paclitaxel in pregnant rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Today, cancer incidence during pregnancy is increasing as women delay childbearing until later in life. Therefore, chemotherapy is regularly administered in pregnant women with cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the change in the pharmacokinetics and the fetus distribution of paclitaxel during pregnancy using pregnant rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacokinetic parameters, placenta, and brain transport of [(3)H]paclitaxel were investigated in nonpregnant or pregnant rats using single intravenous injection technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel in pregnant rats was markedly different compared with nonpregnant rats. The V dss and CL of paclitaxel in pregnant rats were increased, and AUC was decreased compared with nonpregnant rats. The fetus uptake of paclitaxel is markedly lower than the placenta uptake. Paclitaxel is a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), so P-gp would affect the transport of paclitaxel to the fetus. The brain uptake of [(3)H]paclitaxtel was about twofold lower than that of nonpregnant rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current findings are important when considering cancer treatment with paclitaxel during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Cell Fate Control, College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, 52, Hyochangwon-gil, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul, 140-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Na-Young
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Bok
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel