Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 5, 2009-2016, Copyright © 1987 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
The pharmacology of intraperitoneally administered bleomycin
SB Howell, M Schiefer, PA Andrews, M Markman and I Abramson
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
The clinical pharmacology of intraperitoneally administered bleomycin was
examined in 11 patients with malignancies confined predominantly to the
peritoneal cavity. Bleomycin (60 mg/m2) was mixed in 2 L of 0.9% NaCl, and
administered rapidly into the peritoneal cavity via a Port-a- Cath
(Pharmacia Nu Tech, Inc, Walpole, MA). The cavity was drained following
either a four- or eight-hour dwell time. Bleomycin concentration in the
peritoneal cavity and plasma was determined by radioimmunoassay. A total of
15 courses was studied. The peak peritoneal: plasma concentration ratio
averaged 22, and total exposure for the peritoneal cavity averaged
seven-fold greater than that for the plasma. The peritoneal and plasma
half-lives for bleomycin were 3.2 and 6.0 hours, respectively. The
peritoneal clearance of bleomycin averaged 11.3 mL/min/m2. Abdominal pain
occurred on 47% of courses; other toxicities included fever, skin rash, and
mucositis. We conclude that there is a substantial pharmacologic advantage
to the peritoneal route for tumors confined to the peritoneum, but that the
advantage is less, and the local toxicity greater, than that found with the
intraperitoneal administration of many other anticancer drugs.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Facebook 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
