Pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel in patients with advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE To characterize the disposition of paclitaxel in patients with platinum pretreated ovarian carcinoma.METHODS Paclitaxel pharmacokinetics were studied in 16 patients with advanced ovarian cancer after the administration at 135,175 or 235 mg·m -2 by a 3 hour infusion schedule.Fourteen plasma samples were obtained during the infusion and up to 24 hours after the infusion.The concentrations of paclitaxel were determined by a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).The pharmacokinetics was assessed by noncompartment and model-dependent methods.RESULTS Paclitaxel disposition was nonlinear after the 3 hour infusion.The plasma disposition of paclitaxel was consistent with a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model.Its metabolism in patients here appeared to be slower than that of other pharmacokinetic studies abroad.CONCLUSION There was variability of metabolism along patients.It strongly suggests to monitor paclitaxel in plasma at 24 hour post-administration.