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Plasma levels of 5‐fluorouracil after oral and intravenous administration in cancer patients.
Author(s) -
Finch RE,
Bending MR,
Lant AF
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1979.tb04651.x
Subject(s) - pharmacokinetics , medicine , bioavailability , drug , fluorouracil , pharmacology , oral administration , cancer , toxicity , half life , blood plasma , gastroenterology
1. Plasma levels of 5‐fluorouracil (5FU) have been determined in eleven cancer patients after 0.5 g and 1.0 g intravenous doses, and in one patient after paired 1.0 g oral and intravenous doses. 2. The plasma half‐life after the 0.5 g intravenous dose was relatively constant, irrespective of the stage and spread of the disease. 3. Plasma kinetics of the drug were dose dependent. Doubling of the intravenous dose produced a 1.5‐fold increase in plasma half life, a two‐fold increase in initial plasma drug concentration, and a three‐fold increase in area under the concentration/time curve. 4. In one patient receiving paired 1.0 g intravenous and oral doses nine weeks apart, an increase in the bioavailability of the drug coincided with a marked clinical regression in palpable intra‐abdominal metastases. 5. The significance of measuring plasma drug kinetics and their relationship to drug efficacy and toxicity are discussed.