PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Kerbusch

Publications and source records attributed to T Kerbusch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of the combination of topotecan and ifosfamide administered intravenously every 3 weeks.

To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicities, and pharmacokinetics of topotecan administered as a 30-min intravenous (i.v.) infusion over 5 days in combination with a 1-h i.v. infusion of ifosfamide (IF) for 3 consecutive days every 3 weeks. Patients with advanced malignancies refractory to standard therapy were entered into the study. The starting dose of topotecan was 0.4 mg x m(-2) day(-1) x 5 days. Ifosfamide was administered at a fixed dose of 1.2 g x m(-2) day(-1) x 3 days. In all, 36 patients received 144 treatment courses. Owing to toxicities, the schedule of topotecan administration was reduced from 5 to 3 days. The MTD was reached at topotecan 1.2 mg x m(-2) day(-1) x 3 days with IF 1.2 g x m(-2) day(-1) x 3 days. Haematological toxicities were dose limiting. Neutropenia was the major toxicity. Thrombocytopenia and anaemia were rare. Nonhaematological toxicities were relatively mild. Partial responses were documented in three patients with ovarian cancer dosed below the MTD. Topotecan and IF did not appear to interact pharmacokinetically. The relationships between the exposure to topotecan lactone and total topotecan, and the decrease in absolute neutrophil count and the decrease in thrombocytes, were described with sigmoidal-E(max) models. The combination of 1.0 mg m(-2) day(-1) topotecan administered as a 30-min i.v. infusion daily times three with 1.2 g x m(-2) day(-1) IF administered as a 1-h i.v. infusion daily times three every 3 weeks was feasible. However, the combination schedule of topotecan and IF did result in considerable haematological toxicity and in conjunction with previously reported pronounced nonhaematological toxicities and treatment related deaths, it may be concluded that this is not a favourable combination.

Adult↗

Distribution of ifosfamide and metabolites between plasma and erythrocytes.

The distribution of ifosfamide (IF) and its metabolites 2-dechloroethylifosfamide (2DCE), 3-dechloroethylifosfamide (3DCE), 4-hydroxyifosfamide (4OHIF) and ifosforamide mustard (IFM) between plasma and erythrocytes was examined in vitro and in vivo. In vitro distribution was investigated by incubating blood with various concentrations of IF and its metabolites. In vivo distribution of IF, 2DCE, 3DCE and 4OHIF was determined in 7 patients receiving 9 g/m(2)/72 h intravenous continuous IF infusion. In vitro distribution equilibrium between erythrocytes and plasma was obtained quickly after drug addition. Mean (+/-sem) in vitro and in vivo erythrocyte (e)-plasma (p) partition coefficients (P(e/p)) were 0.75+/-0.01 and 0.81+/-0.03, 0.62+/-0.09 and 0.73+/-0.05, 0.76+/-0.10 and 0.93+/-0.05 and 1.38+/-0.04 and 0.98+/-0.09 for IF, 2DCE, 3DCE and 4OHIF, respectively. These ratios were independent of concentration and unaltered with time. The ratios of the area under the erythrocyte and plasma concentration--time curves (AUC(e/p)) were 0.96+/-0.03, 0.87+/-0.07, 0.98+/-0.06 and 1.34+/-0.39, respectively. A time- and concentration-dependent distribution--equilibrium phenomenon was observed with the relative hydrophilic IFM. It is concluded that IF and metabolites rapidly reach distribution equilibrium between erythrocytes and plasma; the process is slower for IFM. Drug distribution to the erythrocyte fraction ranged from about 38% for 2DCE to 58% for 4OHIF, and was stable over a wide range of clinically relevant concentrations. A strong parallelism in the erythrocyte and plasma concentration profiles was observed for all compounds. Thus, pharmacokinetic assessment using only plasma sampling yields direct and accurate insights into the whole blood kinetics of IF and metabolites and may be used for pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic studies.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗

Population pharmacokinetics and exploratory pharmacodynamics of ifosfamide and metabolites after a 72-h continuous infusion in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: The population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the cytostatic agent ifosfamide and its main metabolites 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide and 4-hydroxyifosfamide were assessed in patients with soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: Twenty patients received 9 or 12 g/m2 ifosfamide administered as a 72-h continuous intravenous infusion. The population pharmacokinetic model was built in a sequential manner, starting with a covariate-free model and progressing to a covariate model with the aid of generalised additive modelling. RESULTS: The addition of the covariates weight, body surface area, albumin, serum creatinine, serum urea, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase improved the prediction errors of the model. Typical pretreatment (mean +/- SEM) initial clearance of ifosfamide was 3.03 +/- 0.18 l/h with a volume of distribution of 44.0 +/- 1.8 l. Autoinduction, dependent on ifosfamide levels, was characterised by an induction half-life of 11.5 +/- 1.0 h with 50% maximum induction at 33.0 +/- 3.6 microM ifosfamide. Significant pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships (P = 0.019) were observed between the exposure to 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide and orientational disorder, a neurotoxic side-effect. No pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships between exposure to 4-hydroxyifosfamide and haematological toxicities could be observed in this population.

Adult↗

Population pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide and its 2- and 3-dechloroethylated and 4-hydroxylated metabolites in resistant small-cell lung cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model that could describe the pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide. 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide and 4-hydroxyifosfamide, and calculate their plasma exposure and urinary excretion. A group of 14 patients with small-cell lung cancer received a 1-h intravenous infusion of 2.0 or 3.0 g/m2 ifosfamide over 1 or 2 days in combination with 175 mg/m2 paclitaxel and carboplatin at AUC 6. The concentration-time profiles of ifosfamide were described by an ifosfamide concentration-dependent development of autoinduction of ifosfamide clearance. Metabolite compartments were linked to the ifosfamide compartment enabling description of the concentration-time profiles of 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide and 4-hydroxyifosfamide. The Bayesian estimates of the pharmacokinetic parameters were used to calculate the systemic exposure to ifosfamide and its metabolites for the four ifosfamide schedules. Fractionation of the dose over 2 days resulted increased metabolite formation, especially of 2-dechloroethylifosfamide, probably due to increased autoinduction. Renal recovery was only minor with 6.6% of the administered dose excreted unchanged and 9.8% as dechloroethylated metabolites. In conclusion, ifosfamide pharmacokinetics were described with an ifosfamide concentration-dependent development of autoinduction and allowed estimation of the population pharmacokinetics of the metabolites of ifosfamide. Fractionation of the dose resulted in increased exposure to 2-dechloroethylifosfamide, probably due to increased autoinduction.

Adult↗

Modulation of the cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of ifosfamide by ketoconazole and rifampin.

BACKGROUND: The autoinducible metabolic transformation of the anticancer agent ifosfamide involves activation through 4-hydroxyifosfamide to the ultimate cytotoxic ifosforamide mustard and deactivation to 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide with concomitant release of the neurotoxic chloroacetaldehyde. Activation is mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and deactivation by CYP3A4 and CYP2B6. The aim of this study was to investigate modulation of the CYP-mediated metabolism of ifosfamide with ketoconazole, a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4, and rifampin (INN, rifampicin), an inducer of CYP3A4/CYP2B6. METHODS: In a double-randomized, 2-way crossover study a total of 16 patients received ifosfamide 3 g/m(2) per 24 hours intravenously, either alone or in combination with 200 mg ketoconazole twice daily (1 day before treatment and 3 days of concomitant administration) or 300 mg rifampin twice daily (3 days before treatment and 3 days of concomitant administration). Plasma pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of ifosfamide, 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide, and 4-hydroxyifosfamide were assessed in both courses. Data analysis was performed with a population pharmacokinetic model with a description of autoinduction of ifosfamide. RESULTS: Rifampin increased the clearance of ifosfamide at the start of therapy at 102%. The fraction of ifosfamide metabolized to the dechloroethylated metabolites was increased, whereas exposure to the metabolites was decreased as a result of increased elimination. The fraction metabolized and the exposure to 4-hydroxyifosfamide were not significantly influenced. Ketoconazole did not affect the fraction metabolized or the exposure to the dechloroethylated metabolites, whereas both parameters were reduced with 4-hydroxyifosfamide. CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of ifosfamide with ketoconazole or rifampin did not produce changes in the pharmacokinetics of the parent or metabolites that may result in an increased benefit of ifosfamide therapy.

Adult↗

Clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ifosfamide and its metabolites.

This review discusses several issues in the clinical pharmacology of the antitumour agent ifosfamide and its metabolites. Ifosfamide is effective in a large number of malignant diseases. Its use, however, can be accompanied by haematological toxicity, neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Since its development in the middle of the 1960s, most of the extensive metabolism of ifosfamide has been elucidated. Identification of specific isoenzymes responsible for ifosfamide metabolism may lead to an improved efficacy/toxicity ratio by modulation of the metabolic pathways. Whether ifosfamide is specifically transported by erythrocytes and which activated ifosfamide metabolites play a key role in this transport is currently being debated. In most clinical pharmacokinetic studies, the phenomenon of autoinduction has been observed, but the mechanism is not completely understood. Assessment of the pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide and metabolites has long been impaired by the lack of reliable bioanalytical assays. The recent development of improved bioanalytical assays has changed this dramatically, allowing extensive pharmacokinetic assessment, identifying key issues such as population differences in pharmacokinetic parameters, differences in elimination dependent upon route and schedule of administration, implications of the chirality of the drug and interpatient pharmacokinetic variability. The mechanisms of action of cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, urotoxicity and nephrotoxicity have been pivotal issues in the assessment of the pharmacodynamics of ifosfamide. Correlations between the new insights into ifosfamide metabolism, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will rationalise the further development of therapeutic drug monitoring and dose individualisation of ifosfamide treatment.

Animals↗

Population pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide and its dechloroethylated and hydroxylated metabolites in children with malignant disease: a sparse sampling approach.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a sparse sampling approach for the determination of the population pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide, 2- and 3-dechloroethyl-ifosfamide and 4-hydroxy-ifosfamide in children treated with single-agent ifosfamide against various malignant tumours. DESIGN: Pharmacokinetic assessment followed by model fitting. PATIENTS: The analysis included 32 patients aged between 1 and 18 years receiving a total of 45 courses of ifosfamide 1.2, 2 or 3 g/m2 in 1 or 3 hours on 1, 2 or 3 days. METHODS: A total of 133 blood samples (median of 3 per patient) were collected. Plasma concentrations of ifosfamide and its dechloroethylated metabolites were determined by gas chromatography. Plasma concentrations of 4-hydroxy-ifosfamide were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The models were fitted to the data using a nonlinear mixed effects model as implemented in the NONMEM program. A cross-validation was performed. RESULTS: Population values (mean +/- standard error) for the initial clearance and volume of distribution of ifosfamide were estimated at 2.36 +/- 0.33 L/h/m2 and 20.6 +/- 1.6 L/m2 with an interindividual variability of 43 and 32%, respectively. The enzyme induction constant was estimated at 0.0493 +/- 0.0104 L/h2/m2. The ratio of the fraction of ifosfamide metabolised to each metabolite to the volume of distribution of that metabolite, and the elimination rate constant, of 2- and 3-dechloroethyl-ifosfamide and 4-hydroxy-ifosfamide were 0.0976 +/- 0.0556, 0.0328 +/- 0.0102 and 0.0230 +/- 0.0083 m2/L and 3.64 +/- 2.04, 0.445 +/- 0.174 and 7.67 +/- 2.87 h(-1), respectively. Interindividual variability of the first parameter was 23, 34 and 53%, respectively. Cross-validation indicated no bias and minor imprecision (12.5 +/- 5.1%) for 4-hydroxy-ifosfamide only. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed and validated a model to estimate ifosfamide and metabolite concentrations in a paediatric population by using sparse sampling.

Adolescent↗

Influence of dose and infusion duration on pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide and metabolites.

The anticancer drug ifosfamide is a prodrug requiring activation through 4-hydroxyifosfamide to ifosforamide mustard, to exert cytotoxicity. Deactivation of ifosfamide leads to 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide and the release of potentially neurotoxic chloracetaldehyde. The aim of this study was to quantify and to compare the pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide, 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide, 4-hydroxyifosfamide, and ifosforamide mustard in short (1-4 h), medium (24-72 h), and long infusion durations (96-240 h) of ifosfamide. An integrated population pharmacokinetic model was used to describe the autoinducible pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide and its four metabolites in 56 patients. The rate by which autoinduction of the metabolism of ifosfamide developed was found to be significantly dependent on the infusion schedule. The rate was 52% lower with long infusion durations compared with short infusion durations. This difference was, however, comparable with its interindividual variability (22%) and was, therefore, considered to be of minor clinical importance. Autoinduction caused a less than proportional increase in the area under the ifosfamide plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and more than proportional increase in metabolite exposure with increasing ifosfamide dose. During long infusion durations dose-corrected exposures (AUC/D) were significantly decreased for ifosfamide and increased for 3-dechloroethylifosfamide compared with short infusion durations. No differences in dose-normalized exposure to ifosfamide and metabolites were observed between short and medium infusion durations. This study demonstrates that the duration of ifosfamide infusion influences the exposure to the parent and its metabolite 3-dechloroethylifosfamide. The observed dose and infusion duration dependence should be taken into account when modeling ifosfamide metabolism.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗

Simple and selective determination of the cyclophosphamide metabolite phosphoramide mustard in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simple and selective assay for the determination of the alkylating cyclophosphamide metabolite phosphoramide mustard (PM) in plasma was developed and validated. PM was determined after derivatisation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection at 276 nm. Sample pre-treatment consisted of derivatisation of PM with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) at 70 degrees C for 10 min, followed by extraction with acetonitrile in the presence of 0.7 M sodium chloride. Phase separation occurred due to the high salt content of the aqueous phase. The HPLC system consisted of a C8 column with acetonitrile-0.025 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 8.0, (32:68, v/v) as the mobile phase. The entire sample handling procedure, from collection at the clinical ward until analysis in the laboratory, was optimised and validated. Calibration curves were linear from 50 to 10,000 ng/ml. The lower limit of quantification and the limit of detection (using a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) were 50 and 40 ng/ml, respectively, using 500 microl of plasma. Within-day and between-day precisions were below 11% over the entire concentration range and the accuracies were between 100 and 106%. PM was found to be stable at -30 degrees C for at least 10 weeks both in plasma and as a DDTC-derivative in a dry sample. A pharmacokinetic pilot study in two patients receiving 1,000 mg/m2 CP in a 1-h infusion demonstrated the applicability of the assay.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗

Reduction of cyclophosphamide bioactivation by thioTEPA: critical sequence-dependency in high-dose chemotherapy regimens.

PURPOSE: Cyclophosphamide and thioTEPA are frequently used simultaneously in high-dose chemotherapy regimens. During a pharmacokinetic study of 31 courses in 20 patients of cyclophosphamide and its activated metabolite 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide given in the combination cyclophosphamide thioTEPA carboplatin, a sharp decrease in 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide concentration was observed immediately after the start of the thioTEPA infusion. A drug-drug interaction was suspected. This putative interaction was investigated in this study. METHODS: Possible sequence dependency, due to inhibition of the formation of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide by thioTEPA, was investigated by altering the sequence of infusion in three patients (four courses) receiving high-dose chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (1,000 or 1,500 mg/m2 per day), thioTEPA (80 or 120 mg/m2 per day) and carboplatin (265 or 400 mg/m2 per day) in short infusions for four consecutive days. The pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide were established. Possible inhibition of the metabolism of cyclophosphamide and thioTEPA was investigated in human microsomes. RESULTS: A striking sequence dependency of the pharmacokinetics of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide was observed. Administration of thioTEPA 1 h prior to cyclophosphamide resulted in decreased Cmax (-62%) and AUC (-26%) values of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide compared to those of thioTEPA administered 1 h after cyclophosphamide. In human microsomes an inhibition of the conversion of cyclophosphamide to 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide by thioTEPA was observed at clinically relevant concentrations with an IC50 of 23 microM. No inhibition of the formation of TEPA by cyclophosphamide was observed. CONCLUSIONS: ThioTEPA strongly inhibits the bioactivation of cyclophosphamide and this may decrease both efficacy and toxicity. Our results seriously question the practice of the simultaneous continuous infusion of cyclophosphamide and thioTEPA and suggest that the sequencing and scheduling of these two agents in high-dose chemotherapy regimens may be of critical importance.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Evaluation of the autoinduction of ifosfamide metabolism by a population pharmacokinetic approach using NONMEM.

AIMS: This study investigated the population pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide in 15 patients treated for soft tissue sarcoma with 9 or 12 g m-2 ifosfamide by means of a 72 h continuous i.v. infusion. METHODS: A model was developed using nonlinear mixed effects modelling (NONMEM) to describe the nonlinear pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide by linking the ifosfamide plasma concentrations to the extent of the autoinduction. RESULTS: The proposed model revealed the effect of autoinduction on the disposition of ifosfamide. The initial clearance, volume of distribution, rate constant for enzyme degradation, induction half-life of the enzyme and the ifosfamide concentration at 50% of the maximum inhibition of enzyme degradation were estimated at 2.94 +/- 0.27 l h-1, 43.5 +/- 2.9 l, 0.0546 +/- 0. 0078 h-1, 12.7 h and 30.7 +/- 4.8 microM, respectively. Interindividual variabilities of initial clearance, volume of distribution, rate constant for enzyme degradation were 24.5, 23.4 and 22.7%, respectively. Proportional and additive variability not explained by the model were 13.6% and 0.0763 microM, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of a lag time for the autoinduction of ifosfamide metabolism could be the result of an immediate inhibition of the enzymatic degradation of CYP3A4 by ifosfamide. By application of the autoinduction model individual pharmacokinetic profiles of patients were described with adequate precision. This model may therefore be used in the future development of a model to individualize dose selection in patients.

Adult↗

Studies on the mechanism of a fatal clarithromycin-pimozide interaction in a patient with Tourette syndrome.

The authors report in detail the case of a 27-year-old man who experienced sudden cardiac death 2 days after coprescription of the neuroleptic pimozide and the macrolide antibiotic clarithromycin after the documentation of a prolonged QT interval. To determine the prevalence of this interaction, the authors referred to the Spontaneous Reporting System of the Food and Drug Administration and identified one similar case in which clarithromycin was coprescribed with pimozide and sudden cardiac death occurred shortly thereafter. In addition, the search identified 39 cases of cardiac arrhythmia associated with pimozide, 11 with pimozide alone, and 6 with clarithromycin alone, 1 of which had a positive rechallenge. The mechanism of the interaction between clarithromycin and pimozide seems to involve the inhibition of the hepatic metabolism of pimozide by the macrolide. The authors demonstrated that clarithromycin is able to inhibit the metabolism of pimozide in human liver microsomal preparations (K(i) = 7.65 +/- 1.18 microM) and that pimozide, but not clarithromycin or its primary metabolite, is able to prolong the electrocardiac QT interval in a dose-dependent manner in the isolated perfused rabbit heart. The increase was 9.6 +/- 1.1% in male hearts (N = 5) and 13.4 +/- 1.2% in female hearts (N = 4) (p < 0.05).

Adolescent↗

Determination of ifosfamide, 2- and 3-dechloroethyifosfamide using gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus or mass spectrometry detection.

A comparison was made between methods for determining ifosfamide (IF), 2- (2DCE) and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide (3DCE) using gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection (GC-NPD) versus positive ion electron-impact ion-trap mass spectrometry (GC-MS2). Sample pretreatment involved liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate after adding trofosfamide as internal standard and alkalinization. The GC-NPD was linear, specific, and sensitive for all analytes in the range of 0.0500-100 microg/mL with lower limits of quantification (LLQ) of 0.0500 microg/mL using a 50-microgL plasma sample. The GC-MS2 was linear, specific, and sensitive for IF, 2DCE, and 3DCE in the ranges of 0.250-100, 0.500-25.0, and 0.500-25.0 microg/mL, respectively, with LLQs of 0.250, 0.500, and 0.500 microg/mL. The ranges of accuracy, within-day precision, and between-day precision for analysis of all compounds with GC-NPD did not exceed 93.3% to 105.4%, 8.0% and 9.8%, respectively. The ranges of accuracy, within-day precision, and between-day precision for analysis of all compounds with GC-MS2 did not exceed 86.5% to 99.0%, 9.0% and 12.7%, respectively. In conclusion, GC-NPD proved to be superior to GC-MS2 in sensitivity, detection range, accuracy, and precisions. Therefore GC-NPD is the method of choice for fast un-derivatized determination of IF, 2DCE, and 3DCE in human plasma, and it can readily be used for clinical pharmacokinetic studies and routine monitoring of IF-treated patients in a hospital setting.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗

Effect of clarithromycin on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pimozide in healthy poor and extensive metabolizers of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6).

BACKGROUND: The use of pimozide is associated with prolongation of the QT interval and fatal ventricular arrhythmia. We recently reported 2 fatal cases in patients taking pimozide and clarithromycin and we have shown that clarithromycin inhibits CYP3A-mediated metabolism of pimozide in vitro. In this study, we examined the effect of clarithromycin on pimozide pharmacokinetics and QT interval changes in a total of 12 healthy subjects (7 men and 5 women), documented as extensive metabolizers or poor metabolizers of CYP2D6. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design, subjects were given a single 6-mg oral dose of pimozide after 5 days of treatment with clarithromycin (500 mg twice a day) or a placebo pill. Blood samples were obtained before and for 96 hours after pimozide administration, and plasma pimozide and clarithromycin concentrations were measured by HPLC. Electrocardiograms for the analysis of the QTc intervals were recorded immediately before each blood sample. RESULTS: Pimozide significantly lengthened QTc interval in the first 20 hours in both the placebo-treated groups (delta QTcmax = 13.3 +/- 5.3 ms; P = .003) and clarithromycin-treated groups (delta QTcmax = 15.7 +/- 9.5 ms; P = .005) compared with baseline values. This is consistent with an effect of the parent drug. Clarithromycin caused a significant increase in the peak plasma concentration (P = .015), terminal elimination half-life (P = .003), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (P = .024) and a decrease in the clearance (P = .029) of pimozide. Mean QTcmax observed within 20 hours of pimozide administration was significantly greater in the clarithromycin-treated group (23.8 +/- 12.2 ms; P = .0397) than in the placebo-treated group (16.8 +/- 6 ms). There was no significant effect of CYP2D6 or gender on the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of pimozide. CONCLUSIONS: A single 6-mg oral dose of pimozide resulted in measurable QT interval changes. Clarithromycin inhibited CYP3A-mediated pimozide metabolism and the resulting elevation in plasma concentrations may increase the risk of pimozide cardiotoxicity.

Adult↗

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of stabilized 4-hydroxyifosfamide in human plasma and erythrocytes.

A method using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) is described for the measurement of the stabilized activated metabolite of ifosfamide, 4-hydroxyifosfamide (4-OHIF), in human plasma and erythrocytes. Immediately after sample collection and plasma-erythrocyte separation at 4 degrees C, 4-OHIF was stabilized by derivatization with semicarbazide (SCZ). The sample pretreatment involved liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. RP-HPLC was executed with a C8 column and acetonitrile-0.025 M potassium dihydrogenphosphate buffer (pH 7.40)-triethylamine (13.5:86:0.5, v/v) as mobile phase. The analyte was determined with UV detection at 230 nm. Complete validation, optimisation and stability studies were performed and the method proved to be specific, sensitive and with a stable analyte in the range of clinically relevant concentrations (0.1-10 microg/ml) after conventional dosing. The lower limit of quantitation was 100 ng/ml using 1.00 ml of sample. Accuracy was between 94.1 and 107.0%. Within-day and between-day precisions were less than 6.2% and 7.2%, respectively. 4-OHIF-SCZ was found to be stable in the biological matrix at -20 degrees C for at least 1 month. A pharmacokinetic study conducted in a patient receiving 9 g/m2 over 3 days by means of a continuous infusion, demonstrated the applicability of this method.

Acetonitriles↗

Simultaneous determination of N,N',N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide, cyclophosphamide and some of their metabolites in plasma using capillary gas chromatography.

A sensitive assay for the simultaneous determination of N,N',N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide (thioTEPA), its metabolite N,N',N"-triethylenephosphoramide (TEPA), cyclophosphamide (CP) and its metabolite 2-dechloroethylcyclophosphamide (2-DCE-CP) in plasma has been developed and validated. The analytes were determined using gas chromatography with nitrogen/phosphorus selective detection after liquid-liquid extraction with chloroform using 100 microl of plasma. Diphenylamine (for TEPA, thioTEPA and 2-DCE-CP) and imipramine (for CP) were used as internal standards. The limits of quantitation for thioTEPA, TEPA, CP and 2-DCE-CP were 5, 5, 50 and 250 ng/ml, respectively. Linear calibration curves were observed over two decades of concentration. Accuracy, within-day and between-day precision were less than 13% for all analytes. Stability of the analytes proved to be satisfactory for at least 1 month, stored at -70 degrees C. Analysis of samples obtained from patients receiving cyclophosphamide, thioTEPA and carboplatin in a high-dose regimen demonstrated the applicability of the assay.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of the electroencephalogram effect of synthetic opioids in the rat: correlation with the interaction at the mu-opioid receptor.

The purpose of our investigation was to characterize the relationships between the pharmacodynamics of synthetic opioids in vivo and the interaction at the mu-opioid receptor. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were determined in vivo after a single i.v. infusion of 3.14 mg/kg alfentanil (A), 0.15 mg/kg fentanyl (F) or 0.030 mg/kg sufentanil (S) in rats. Amplitudes in the 0.5 to 4.5 Hz frequency band of the electroencephalogram (EEG) was used as pharmacodynamic endpoint. The EEG effect intensity was related to the (free) concentration in blood (A) or in a hypothetical effect compartment (F, S) on basis of the sigmoidal Emax pharmacodynamic model. The interaction at the mu-opioid receptor was determined in vitro on basis of the displacement of [3H]-naloxone binding in washed rat brain membranes. The value of the sodium shift was used as a measure of in vitro intrinsic efficacy. For the EEG effect the in vivo potencies based on free drug concentrations (EC50,u) were 4.62 +/- 0.66 ng/ml (A), 0.69 +/- 0.05 ng/ml (F) and 0.29 +/- 0.06 ng/ml (S). In the receptor binding studies the affinities at the mu-opioid receptor (Kl) were 47.4 +/- 6.6 nM (A), 8.6 +/- 4.1 nM (F) and 2.8 +/- 0.2 nM (S). For each opioid the ratio between EC50,u and Kl was the same with a value of 0.23-0.25, indicating the existence of receptor reserve for the EEG effect. The intrinsic activity (Emax) of the three opioids in vivo was similar with values of 111 +/- 10 microV (A), 89 +/- 11 microV (F) and 104 +/- 4 microV (S). However, the values of the sodium shift varied between 2.8 (S) and 19.1 (A). Further analysis of the in vivo pharmacodynamic data on basis of an operational model of agonism provided evidence for a large receptor reserve, which explains why compounds with different values of the sodium shift all behave as full agonists in vivo.

Alfentanil↗

Identification and characterization of human cytochrome P450 isoforms interacting with pimozide.

Using human liver microsomes (HLMs) and recombinant human cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isoforms, we identified the major route of pimozide metabolism, the CYP450 isoforms involved, and documented the inhibitory effect of pimozide on CYP450 isoforms. Pimozide was predominantly N-dealkylated to 1,3-dihydro-1-(4-piperidinyl)-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (DHPBI). The formation rate of DHPBI showed biphasic kinetics in HLMs, which suggests the participation of at least two activities. These were characterized as high-affinity (K(m1) and Vmax1) and low-affinity (K(m2) and Vmax2) components. The ratio of Vmax1 (14 pmol/min/mg protein)/K(m1) (0.73 microM) was 5.2 times higher than the ratio of Vmax2 (244 pmol/min/mg protein)/K(m2) (34 microM). K(m2) was 91 times higher than K(m1). The formation rate of DHPBI from 25 microM pimozide in nine human livers correlated significantly with the catalytic activity of CYP3A (Spearman r = 0.79, P = .028), but not with other isoforms. Potent inhibition of DHPBI formation from 10 microM pimozide was observed with ketoconazole (88%), troleandomycin (79%), furafylline (48%) and a combination of furafylline and ketoconazole (96%). Recombinant human CYP3A4 catalyzed DHPBI formation from 10 microM pimozide at the highest rate (V = 2.2 +/- 0.89 pmol/min/pmol P450) followed by CYP1A2 (V = 0.23 +/- 0.08 pmol/min/pmol P450), but other isoforms tested did not. The K(m) values derived with recombinant CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 were 5.7 microM and 36.1 microM, respectively. Pimozide itself was a potent inhibitor of CYP2D6 in HLMs when preincubated for 15 min (Ki = 0.75 +/- 0.98 microM) and a moderate inhibitor of CYP3A (Ki = 76.7 +/- 34.5 microM), with no significant effect on other isoforms tested. Our results suggest that pimozide metabolism is catalyzed mainly by CYP3A, but CYP1A2 also contributes. Pimozide metabolism is likely to be subject to interindividual variability in CYP3A and CYP1A2 expression and to drug interactions involving these isoforms. Pimozide itself may inhibit the metabolism of drugs that are substrates of CYP2D6.

Antipsychotic Agents↗