Bioavailability of etoposide after oral administration of the solution marketed for intravenous use: Therapeutic and pharmacoeconomic perspectives

Citation
Jla. Ponce et al., Bioavailability of etoposide after oral administration of the solution marketed for intravenous use: Therapeutic and pharmacoeconomic perspectives, ARCH MED R, 30(3), 1999, pp. 212-215
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
ISSN journal
01884409 → ACNP
Volume
30
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
212 - 215
Database
ISI
SICI code
0188-4409(199905/06)30:3<212:BOEAOA>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
Background Oral etoposide administration is a suitable alternative to the i ntravenous route; therefore, commercial capsules have been developed. Befor e these capsules were available in Mexico, we studied drug bioavailability after oral administration of the intravenous etoposide solution (IVES). Methods. Eight adult cancer patients received a 50-mg oral etoposide dose a s IVES and blood samples were collected over a period of 24 h. plasma etopo side concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography , plasma concentration against time curves were constructed, and bioavailab ility parameters were calculated. Results. Oral IVES yielded an adequate bioavailability profile because C-ma x, was 2.38 +/- 0.30 mu g/mL, AUC was 12.87 +/- 2.02 mu g/mL and half-life was 6.72 +/- 0.97 h. Conclusions. Considering that the pharmacokinetic aim is to maintain plasma concentrations between 0.5 and 1.0 mu g/mL for several hours while avoidin g high concentrations, i.e., of 10 mu g/mL or higher, oral administration o f 50-mg etoposide as IVES appears to be a suitable dosing option. In additi on, oral IVES is considerably less expensive than intravenous administratio n in terms of both drug presentation and administration. (C) 1999 IMSS. Pub lished by Elsevier Science Inc.