title: Potency and stability of compounded formulations of chlorambucil, melphalan and cyclophosphamide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral chemotherapy agents are frequently compounded in veterinary medicine however, the potency of some formulations have been shown to vary from that of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved products.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the potency and stability of three compounded oral chemotherapeutics commonly prescribed to be administered over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Compounded chlorambucil 1 mg, cyclophosphamide 5 mg and melphalan 1 mg were obtained and for potency tested upon receipt and 6 weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Potency ranged from 71 to 104% for chlorambucil and 58 to 109% for melphalan; 1/4 and 2/4 samples were <90% of labelled strength at baseline and 6 weeks, respectively, for both drugs. Potency of cyclophosphamide ranged from 92 to 107% with all samples +/-10% of labelled strength at all time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate variability of compounded chemotherapy products, and highlight the need to consider both potency and stability when prescribing orally compounded chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Knych
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Rebhun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000592:standards*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000592:standards*; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000662:veterinary; D004355:Drug Stability; D008558:Melphalan / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D002699:Chlorambucil; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008558:Melphalan
keywords: canine; chemotherapy; feline; oncology; veterinary