EFFECT OF PACLITAXEL ALONE OR IN COMBINATION ON THE INTRACELLULAR PENETRATION AND ACTIVITY OF QUINOLONES IN HUMAN NEUTROPHILS

We evaluated the effect of paclitaxel alone or in combination with cis platin or doxorubicin, on the intracellular penetration and activity o f ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin and sparfloxacin in human pol ymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). In general, paclitaxel either alone o r in combination did not affect the intracellular concentrations of th e quinolones evaluated (intracellular to extracellular concentration r atio (C/E) > 4). However, at high concentrations (20 mg/L) paclitaxel decreased the penetration of ofloxacin and levofloxacin although the C IE ratios remained higher than 3. Paclitaxel alone or in combination a ffected neither the production of oxygen radicals by PMN nor the intra cellular activity of the quinolones against Staphylococcus aureus.