Ultra-performance LC–MS/MS study of the pharmacokinetic interaction of imatinib with selected vitamin preparations in rats

The growing interest of cancerous patients in using vitamins, while on imatinib (IMA) therapy, increased the risk of their pharmacokinetic interactions.Ultra-performance LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of IMA following oral administration of selected vitamin preparations (vitamin A, E, D3 and C) in rat plasma using a hybrid sample preparation technique of protein precipitation followed by SPE.The method showed good linear response for IMA over the concentration range 1-500 ng/ml. Co-administered vitamin preparations could affect IMA pharmacokinetic profiling through either an increase (vitamin A and E) or a decrease (vitamin C) in IMA bioavailability. Vitamin D3 produced no significant effect on IMA bioavailability.Particular concern should be paid when vitamin preparations are administered with IMA.