PLASMA ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS FOLLOWING PACLITAXEL INFUSION

Paclitaxel is formulated in 50% Cremophor EL and 50% ethanol such that patients receiving paclitaxel also receive a significant amount of ea ch of these solvents. The aim of this study was to measure the plasma alcohol levels in patients treated with paclitaxel. A total of 12 pati ents who were enrolled in phase II trials of non-small-cell lung cance r, breast cancer or ovarian cancer received 175 mg/m(2) paclitaxel giv en as a 3-h infusion. Blood samples were obtained prior to and immedia tely following the infusion, and plasma ethanol concentrations were me asured enzymatically. The dose of ethanol delivered with the paclitaxe l ranged from 20.0 to 28.9 ml. No alcohol was detected in pre-dose pla sma, but 8 of 12 patients had detectable levels in post-infusion plasm a, with 0.033 g/dl being the highest concentration. The elimination ra te of alcohol approximates the infusion rate when paclitaxel is given over 3 h, resulting in low or undetectable levels in most patients. Ho wever, in patients receiving an equivalent dose of paclitaxel even as a 1-h infusion, the plasma alcohol levels will likely be high enough f or significant pharmacological effects to occur.