SELECTIVE UPTAKE OF THE ANTICANCER DRUG BENDAMUSTINE BY LIVER AND KIDNEY TISSUES FOLLOWING ITS INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION TO MICE

Distribution of C-14-bendamustine following intravenous (i.v.) adminis tration to mice was examined by whole body autoradiographic (WBAR) and quantitative techniques. The WBAR study showed that C-14-bendamustine -derived radioactivity was distributed extremely unevenly at each time interval investigated. After 5 min of administration the highest dens ity of radioactive material was found in the liver and in the kidney. At all time intervals investigated the brain remained free of the leve l. In a detailed quantitative distribution study it was found that C-1 4-bendamustine-derived radioactivity was also unevenly distributed thr oughout the mouse tissues. At 5 min postdosing the level of C-14 was b y one order higher in the liver and in the kidney in comparison to the lungs, heart, spleen, and muscle. The results of both WBAR adn quanti tative tissue distribution studies suggest that bendamustine was selec tively taken up from the blood by liver and kidney tissues. Because of this pharmacokinetic property, does modification should be taken into consideration when administering the drug to patients suffering from hepatobilary and kidney disorders.