Rl. Dunn et al., SUSTAINED-RELEASE OF CISPLATIN IN DOGS FROM AN INJECTABLE IMPLANT DELIVERY SYSTEM, Journal of bioactive and compatible polymers, 11(4), 1996, pp. 286-300
Cisplatin was incorporated into an in-situ forming biodegradable impla
nt delivery system (ATRIGEL(R)) consisting of a biodegradable polymer
dissolved in a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent. The polymer soluti
on with the suspended cisplatin was injected subcutaneously into the f
lank or shoulder of six healthy beagle dogs where the water-insoluble
polymer precipitated upon contact with body fluids and formed a solid
implant for the controlled release of the drug. Each dog received four
injections, spaced thirty days apart, of a formulation containing eit
her poly(DL-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLC) or poly(DL-lactide-co-glyco
lide) (PLGA) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and loaded with 8%
by weight cisplatin. Dosage levels of 70, 105, and 157.5 mg/m(2) were
used to determine dosage escalation effects. Injections of the same f
ormulations without the drug served as controls. Samples of blood were
taken at appropriate times over the four months of treatment and anal
yzed for platinum concentration by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Loc
al tissue and systemic toxicities were also determined. Both formulati
ons exhibited sustained release of cisplatin with peak serum concentra
tions of platinum being attained in about two days followed by gradual
ly decreasing platinum levels to day thirty. Consistent drug release p
rofiles were observed for each of the four thirty-day treatment period
s. The dosage escalation results exhibited an approximate 50% increase
in peak platinum levels and area-under-the-curve (AUG) values for eac
h 50% increase in drug dose. Local tissue toxicity to the cisplatin-co
ntaining implants was variable and appeared to be unrelated to dose le
vel or injection number. Tissue reaction to the implants without drug
was minimal indicating a role of cisplatin in the tissue reactions. Sy
stemic toxicity, as judged by clinical parameters and clinicopathologi
c evaluation, was not noted at any dose level or injection time.