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Biomedical subjects

P C Adamson

Publications and source records attributed to P C Adamson.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of all-trans-retinoic acid.

BACKGROUND: Orally administered all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA) can induce remission in a high proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. PURPOSE: To further define the drug's pharmacokinetics, a study of intravenous all-trans-RA was performed in rhesus monkeys. METHODS: A total of nine monkeys received intravenous bolus injections of all-trans-RA. Three different doses (20, 50, and 100 mg/m2) were each tested in three monkeys. Blood samples for determination of all-trans-RA concentration were obtained prior to drug administration and at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, 150, 180, 240, 360, and 480 minutes after drug administration. RESULTS: Plasma disappearance of all-trans-RA was characterized by three distinct phases: a brief, initial exponential decline, followed by a relative plateau in the disappearance curve (the duration of which was dose dependent), and finally a terminal exponential decay. This profile is consistent with a capacity-limited (saturable) elimination process. The first-order (terminal) half-life for all-trans-RA averaged 19 minutes, and the mean clearances were 77, 52, and 59 mL/min for the 20-, 50-, and 100-mg/m2 dose groups, respectively. The mean +/- SD Michaelis constant (Km) for the capacity-limited process was 3.2 +/- 1.9 microM. CONCLUSIONS: Peak plasma concentrations following oral administration of 45 mg/m2 all-trans-RA in humans approach the Km for the capacity-limited process; thus, the dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of all-trans-RA described here may occur within the clinically used dosage range.

Animals

Modulation of the cytotoxic effect of cyclopentenylcytosine by its primary metabolite, cyclopentenyluridine.

Cyclopentenylcytosine (CPE-C), a synthetic cytidine analogue with significant preclinical antitumor activity against both solid tumor xenografts and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine resistant murine leukemia cell lines, will soon enter phase I clinical trials. Unlike 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine which is activated by deoxycytidine kinase, the enzyme responsible for the phosphorylation of CPE-C is uridine/cytidine kinase. Preclinical pharmacokinetic studies of CPE-C in nonhuman primates revealed that the primary route of elimination in this species was deamination to cyclopentenyluridine (CPE-U), an inhibitor of uridine/cytidine kinase. Since CPE-C is likely to be deaminated in humans, we investigated the modulating effect of CPE-U on the in vitro cytotoxicity of CPE-C in Molt-4 lymphoblasts. Concurrent exposure of cells to cytotoxic concentrations of CPE-C and 50 microM CPE-U resulted in the rescue of 50% of cells and exposure to CPE-U concentrations in excess of 100 microM resulted in the rescue of greater than 90% of cells. Progressive attenuation of the rescue effect was observed with delayed administration of CPE-U and no cells were rescued when addition of CPE-C was delayed for more than 2 h. At the intracellular level it was observed that the formation of the cytotoxic metabolite, cyclopentenylcytosine triphosphate, was blocked by increasing concentrations of CPE-U presumably secondary to inhibition of uridine/cytidine kinase by CPE-U. Although CPE-U can modulate the cytotoxic effects of CPE-C in vitro, the minimum CPE-U levels that are required for modulation coupled with the available preclinical pharmacokinetic data from nonhuman primates suggests that this modulation is not likely to impact on the antitumor effects of CPE-C in humans.

Cell Survival

Pediatric phase I trial, pharmacokinetic study, and limited sampling strategy for piritrexim administered on a low-dose, intermittent schedule.

Piritrexim, an orally administered, lipid-soluble antifolate, was evaluated in a multi-institutional phase I trial in children. The starting dose was 10 mg/m2/dose administered every 8 h daily for 5 days for 3 consecutive weeks, with dose escalations in increments of 5 mg/m2/dose. Eighteen patients (16 with metastatic sarcoma, 1 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 1 with a brainstem glioma), 3.5-20 years of age, with malignancy refractory to therapy, were entered into the study. The dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), which were myelosuppression and mucositis, occurred in 4 of 4 patients treated at the 25-mg/m2/dose level but in none of the patients treated at the 15- and 20-mg/m2/dose levels. The recommended dose for phase II trials is 20 mg/m2/dose. Pharmacokinetic monitoring was performed in 15 of the 18 children. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was linearly related to the dose administered. Piritrexim was rapidly absorbed, with the median time to peak level occurring 1.5 h after an oral dose. The terminal half-life of piritrexim ranged from 1.5 to 4.5 h. A limited sampling strategy developed earlier, capable of predicting the AUC based on the plasma concentrations at 3 and 6 h after an oral dose, was prospectively tested in this trial and proved to be highly predictive of the AUC (r = 0.98, P = 0.0001). Pharmacodynamic-pharmacokinetic correlations were obtained after combining data from this and the prior phase I pediatric trial. Trough plasma piritrexim concentration strongly correlated with DLT (P = 0.0016). A trough plasma piritrexim concentration greater than 0.5 microM appeared to be predictive of toxicity. Eleven of 15 patients with trough concentrations exceeding this threshold experienced DLTs. Therapeutic drug monitoring may thus play an important role in adjusting the dose and schedule of piritrexim in future trials.

Adolescent

A phase II trial of continuous-infusion 6-mercaptopurine for childhood leukemia.

A phase II pediatric trial of a continuous intravenous infusion of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) in patients with refractory leukemia was performed. The dosing schedule, 50 mg m-2 h-1 for 48 h, was based on the results of a previous phase I trial of this approach. Among the 40 children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), all of whom had received prior therapy with oral 6MP, 1 complete and 1 partial response were achieved. No response was observed in 17 patients with refractory acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Reversible hepatotoxicity, the primary dose-limiting toxicity, was observed in approximately 50% of cases. Mucositis was encountered infrequently and was usually not severe. 6MP given on the present continuous intravenous infusion schedule overcomes the limited and variable bioavailability of oral 6MP but shows limited activity as induction agent in children with recurrent ALL.

Adolescent

Phase I and pharmacokinetic evaluation of all-trans-retinoic acid in pediatric patients with cancer.

PURPOSE: Recent reports of the dramatic antitumor effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have renewed interest in the oncologic indications for retinoids. Furthermore, a variety of pediatric tumors are responsive to RA in vitro, which provides additional rationale for a phase I evaluation of RA in children with cancer that is refractory to standard therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A phase I trial of RA administered orally twice daily for 28-day treatment courses was performed. Cohorts of at least three pediatric cancer patients were entered at successive RA dose levels (from 45 to 80 mg/m2/d) until dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was consistently observed. RESULTS: The maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of RA was 60 mg/m2/d. Three of eight patients at the 80-mg/m2/d dose level developed reversible pseudotumor cerebri that necessitated discontinuation of the agent. Both patients with APL achieved complete remission (CR), whereas no patients with solid tumors had objective responses. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated a relatively short terminal half-life for RA (45 minutes), with diminution in plasma levels after chronic dosing. CONCLUSIONS: The MTD and recommended phase II dose for RA in children is 60 mg/m2/d given twice daily. Reversible CNS toxicity related to RA-induced pseudotumor cerebri is dose-limiting. Two children with APL achieved a CR to RA, which supports the inclusion of pediatric patients in clinical trials that evaluate the use of RA for patients with APL.

Administration, Oral

Methotrexate pharmacokinetics following administration of recombinant carboxypeptidase-G2 in rhesus monkeys.

PURPOSE: Carboxypeptidase-G2 (CPDG2) is a bacterial enzyme that rapidly hydrolyzes methotrexate (MTX) into inactive metabolites. As an alternative form of rescue after high-dose MTX (HDMTX), CPDG2 has more potential advantages than standard leucovorin (LV) rescue. In this study, the plasma pharmacokinetics of MTX with and without CPDG2 were evaluated in adult rhesus monkeys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The plasma pharmacokinetics of MTX were determined in groups of animals that had received a 300-mg/m2 loading dose of MTX followed by a 60-mg/m2/h infusion during an 18-hour period. One group received CPDG2 at the end of the infusion, and the other group served as a control. Two additional animals with high titers of anti-CPDG2 antibody also were studied. RESULTS: During infusion, the steady-state MTX plasma concentration was 11.3 +/- 4.8 mumol/L. Without CPDG2, the postinfusion plasma MTX concentration remained above 0.1 mumol/L for more than 6 hours. After the administration of 50 U/kg of CPDG2, plasma MTX concentrations decreased to nontoxic levels (less than 0.05 mumol/L) within 30 minutes. The initial half-life (t1/2 alpha) of MTX decreased from 5.8 +/- 2.1 minutes to 0.7 +/- 0.02 minutes after enzyme administration. The postinfusion area under the plasma concentration time curve of MTX was 301 +/- 171 mumol/L/min without CPDG2 compared with 19.6 +/- 6.1 mumol/L/min with CPDG2. The immunogenicity studies performed indicated that although animals developed anti-CPDG2 antibodies, none of them manifested allergic symptoms. The effectiveness of CPDG2 was diminished but not eliminated in animals with high titers of anti-CPDG2 antibody. CONCLUSIONS: CPDG2 is capable of rapidly decreasing plasma MTX concentrations to nontoxic levels. The administration of CPDG2 seems safe, well tolerated, and it may be useful as an alternative to LV rescue.

Animals

Intrathecal 6-mercaptopurine: preclinical pharmacology, phase I/II trial, and pharmacokinetic study.

For over 30 years, oral 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) has been a mainstay of systemic maintenance therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Despite its efficacy as an antileukemic agent, 6-MP has not been previously administered by the intrathecal (IT) route. In anticipation of a clinical trial of IT 6-MP, preclinical cytotoxicity and pharmacology studies were performed to define a safe, effective dose. The optimal concentration (greater than 1 microM) and duration of exposure (greater than 12 h) to 6-MP required for cytotoxicity were determined in vitro using human leukemia cell lines. The dose required to achieve the desired cerebrospinal fluid concentrations in humans was derived from pharmacokinetic parameters determined in rhesus monkeys. A phase I/II study was then performed in pediatric patients with refractory meningeal leukemia. Nine patients (aged 3.5 to 16 years) with chronic meningeal leukemia (2 to 6 central nervous system relapses) were entered onto the study. All had previously failed, at a minimum, IT methotrexate, IT cytarabine, and cranial (+/- spinal) radiation. A 10-mg IT dose of 6-MP (calculated to produce cytotoxic cerebrospinal fluid levels for 12 h) was administered twice weekly for 4 weeks. There were four complete responses and three partial responses. The duration of complete responses ranged from 7 to 22 weeks. Observed toxicities were not dose limiting and included mild headache (three patients) and minimal nausea (two patients). Pharmacokinetic studies performed in patients confirmed that cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of 6-MP were greater than 1 microM for 12 h. These results indicate that the IT administration of 6-MP is feasible, is not associated with significant toxicity, and has definite activity in patients with refractory meningeal leukemia.

Adolescent

The child with recurrent solid tumor.

A significant percentage of relapse occurs in children with solid tumors despite advances in treatment. This article discusses reasons for failure of primary therapy, evaluation of the relapsed patient, treatment of the relapsed patient, as well as questionable cancer therapies and therapy cessation.

Algorithms

Rescue of experimental intrathecal methotrexate overdose with carboxypeptidase-G2.

The carboxypeptidase G class of enzymes rapidly hydrolyze methotrexate (MTX) into the inactive metabolites 4-deoxy-4-amino-N10-methylpteroic acid (DAMPA) and glutamate. This study evaluated the use of carboxypeptidase-G2 (CPDG2) as a potential intrathecal (IT) rescue agent for massive IT MTX overdose. The CSF pharmacokinetics of MTX with and without CPDG2 rescue was studied in adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) using a nontoxic IT 5 mg dose (equivalent to 50 mg in humans). Without CPDG2 rescue, peak CSF MTX concentration was 2,904 +/- 340 mumol/L. Within 5 minutes of administration of 30 U IT CPDG2, CSF MTX concentrations decreased greater than 400-fold to 6.55 +/- 6.7 microM. Subsequently, groups of three monkeys received either 25 mg IT MTX (equivalent to 250 mg in humans) followed by 150 U IT CPDG2 or 50 mg IT MTX (equivalent to 500 mg in humans) followed by 300 U IT CPDG2. All animals survived without neurotoxicity. Our studies suggest that CPDG2 may prove to be an important addition to the currently recommended strategy for the management of IT MTX overdose.

Animals

Pediatric phase I trial and pharmacokinetic study of piritrexim administered orally on a five-day schedule.

Piritrexim, a new nonclassical antifolate, was evaluated in a multiinstitutional phase I trial in children. The starting dose was 290 mg/m2/day, administered p.o. every 12 h for 5 consecutive days, with courses repeated every 21 days. Dose reduction, initially to 200 mg/m2/day and subsequently to 140 mg/m2/day, was required because dose limiting myelosuppression and mucositis were encountered at the 290- and 200-mg/m2/day dose levels. Non-dose limiting toxicities included transient elevations in liver function tests, mild nausea, and skin rashes. The maximum tolerated dose was 140 mg/m2/day for 5 days. Pharmacokinetic monitoring was performed at steady state during the first course. For the 140-, 200-, and 290-mg/m2/day dose groups, the mean +/- SE peak plasma concentrations were 5.3 +/- 0.84, 9.3 +/- 1.7, and 10.2 +/- 2.3 microM, respectively, and occurred at a median of 1.5 h following the p.o. dose. The mean area under the plasma concentration-time curves were 18.1 +/- 2.3, 45.4 +/- 8.9, and 56.9 +/- 16.3 microM.h, respectively. Absolute bioavailability in two patients who were also monitored following a single i.v. dose of 140 and 200 mg/m2/day of piritrexim was 35 and 93%, respectively. Dose limiting toxicities were observed in 9 of 10 patients with 12-h trough piritrexim concentrations greater than 0.5 microM, whereas only 2 of 7 patients with trough concentrations less than 0.5 microM experienced dose limiting toxicities. A limited pharmacokinetic sampling strategy that allowed the area under the plasma concentration-time curve to be accurately predicted from the 3- and 6-h plasma drug concentration was developed. The recommended dose for future phase II trials is 140 mg/m2/day administered p.o. every 12 h for 5 consecutive days. Pharmacokinetic monitoring at 3, 6, and 12 h postdose may be useful for estimating bioavailability and for predicting which patients are at greatest risk for developing toxicity.

Adolescent

A phase II trial of continuous-infusion 6-mercaptopurine for childhood solid tumors.

A phase II pediatric trial of a continuous intravenous infusion of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) in patients with refractory solid tumors or lymphoma was performed. The dosing schedule of 50 mg/m2 per hour for 48 h was chosen to produce optimal cytotoxic concentrations of 6-MP. There were no complete or partial responses in the 40 patients entered in the trial. Accrual was sufficient for the conclusion to be drawn that there was greater than 95% probability that the true response rate was no greater than 22% and 26% in osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma, respectively. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in one-third of the patients and included reversible hepatotoxicity, myelosuppression, and mucositis. The excellent penetration of drug into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) suggests that future trials of this intravenous dosing schedule should be conducted on tumors of the CNS.

Adolescent

Pharmacology and drug resistance in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia.

In the first part of this article, the pharmacology of the chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia is reviewed, detailing their mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and toxicities. A section on central nervous system pharmacology discusses advances made in the treatment of meningeal leukemia. Mechanisms of drug resistance are discussed in the second section of the article, outlining the biochemical basis for and clinical implications of both agent-specific resistance and multidrug resistance.

Antineoplastic Agents