Plasma pharmacokinetics of high-dose oral busulfan in children and adults undergoing bone marrow transplantation

Abstract: We have analyzed the plasma pharmacokinetics of busulfan in 272 patients receiving high-dose oral busulfan and intravenous cyclophosphamide in conjunction with allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation. The patients ranged in age from 2 months to 59 yr (mean 10, median 12 yr) and had the following diagnoses: thalassemia or sickle cell anemia (n = 74); leukemia or myelodysplasia (n = 112); inborn errors of metabolism (n = 41) or immunodeficiency (n = 45). Plasma specimens were collected following the first dose for each patient which ranged from 1 to 4 mg/kg (mean ± SD, 1.21 ± 0.41, median 1.15). Busulfan was quantitated using ultraviolet absorbance detection after derivatization and HPLC separation. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived by modeling the raw data to fit first-order single compartment kinetics. The kinetic parameters showed wide interpatient variability independent of age and diagnosis. There was a statistically significant correlation of age with the following parameters: area under the curve (AUC); maximal concentration; minimum concentration; clearance; volume of distribution and absorption half-time. The coefficients of determination (i.e. correlation coefficient squared) were low ranging from 0.04 to 0.12 implying only a small part (i.e. 4–12%) of the variance was explained by age. Although busulfan pharmacokinetics are age-related most of the variability is not explained by age or diagnosis.     

Proliferation of exogenously injected primordial germcells （PGCs） into busulfan-treated chicken embryos

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effect of busulfan treatment on the proliferation of chicken primordialgerm cells (Fgcs) in vivo, focusing on the preferential settlement of PGCs onto the germinal ridges of chicken em-bryos. Methods: Bustdfan (250 rig/egg) was injected into the egg white of freshly oviposited fertilized eggs, whichwere then incubated. Embryonic developnent and viability were examined, and exogenous PGCs collected from embry-onic blood vessels were injected into the germinal crescent region of recipient enthryos. The nttmber of PGCs residedonto germinal ridges of the right and left sides were compared. Results: Bustdfan had a slight harmful effect on theembryo viabihty and the PGCs proliferation. The number of PGCs resided onto the left side of germinal ridges wasslightly higher as compared with the right side. Conclusion: Busulfan suppressed the viability of embryos and the pro-liferation of endogenous PGCs in the recipient embryos. However, the number of exogenous PGCs proliferated washigher in embryos treated with busnlfan than those without busulfan. Data also suggest the possibihty of a preferentialresidence of PCCs toward the left side of the germinal crescent region as compared with the right, which may be due toa more advanced functional development of the left gonad than the right. (Asian JAndro11999 Dec; 1 : 187 - 190)     

Early splenectomy and polychemotherapy versus polychemotherapy alone in chronic myeloid leukemia

The effect of early splenectomy and of polychemotherapy with hydroxyurea, busulfan, and alternate bimonthly courses of arabinosyl cytosine and vincristine plus prednisone, was evaluated in 139 previously untreated patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), consecutively admitted to 18 hospitals from March 1973 to October 1974. Fifty-six patients were splenectomized and 83 patients were not splenectomized. Splenectomy did not influence the duration of chronic and blastic phase, and did not prolong survival. The prognosis of high risk patients was not improved. During the chronic phase, high platelet counts were more frequent in splenectomy group, and five patients developed thrombotic or thromboembolic complications, 5 to 19 months after the operation. The median survival of the whole group was 50 months, with 32 of 139 patients (actuarial proportion 30%) remaining alive 72 months after diagnosis, but the slope of the survival curve was similar to that of historical controls. The results of this trial suggests that new strategies should be developed for the therapy of CML.     

比格犬体内环磷酰胺对白消安药动学及血清GST活性的影响

目的 研究比格犬体内环磷酰胺(cyclophosphamide，Cy)对白消安(busulfan，Bu)的药动学及谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶(glutathione S-transferase，GST)活性影响。方法 取3只比格犬进行双周期交叉试验，设置分组为对照组(单独静脉注射Bu 0.898 mg·kg^–1)和实验组(先连续4 d口服Cy 14.960 mg·kg^–1，然后静脉注射Bu 0.898 mg·kg^–1)，分别在0.083，0.25，0.5，0.75，1，1.5，2，3，4，6，8 h于犬前肢静脉取血2 mL，分离血清，利用高效液相色谱法测定Bu浓度，采用非隔室模型计算药动学参数。利用紫外分光光度法测定并比较对照组和实验组的GST活性。结果 与对照组相比，实验组Bu的MRT减少了25.2%，AUC_0-t减少了44.5%，差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。GST活性测定结果表明，实验组各时间点的GST活性比对照组均有提高。结论 预先给予Cy后，GST活性提高，加快Bu消除，降低其血药浓度总体水平。     

Busulfan and melphalan as conditioning regimen for autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma

Summary. Twenty-four patients with multiple myeloma (MM), three (12-5%) in complete remission (CR) and 21 (87-5%) in partial remission (PR) were treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) (busulfan 12 mg/kg-l-melphalan 140mg/m²) as preparative regimen for autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation. These cells were previously collected by leukapheresis after mobilization by high-dose cyclophosphamide (HD Cy) + rhGM-CSF (18 patients) or rhG-CSF alone (six patients). Considering 23 evaluable patients following HDCT, the CR rate was 58% (14 patients) and the PR rate was 38% (nine patients). One transplant-related death occurred following this regimen (4%). With a median follow-up of 20 months (range 4-34) after transplantation, 21 patients are alive (87%). Disease progression after transplantation was observed in four patients. Overall and relapse-free actuarial survival at 24 months was 91% and 74%, respectively. 12 patients (50%) remain in CR 15 months (4-34) post transplant. The major toxicity was mucositis. Busulfan + melphalan is a safe and feasible conditioning regimen for APBSCT in MM with acceptable toxicity and a high objective response rate, which may result in prolonged survival.     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous busulfan in children prior to stem cell transplantation

AIMS: Intravenous formulations of busulfan have recently become available. Although busulfan is used frequently in children as part of a myeloablative regimen prior to bone marrow transplantation, pharmacokinetic data on intravenous busulfan in children are scarce. The aim was to investigate intravenous busulfan pharmacokinetics in children and to suggest a limited sampling strategy in order to determine busulfan systemic exposure with the minimum of inconvenience and risk for the patient. METHODS: Plasma pharmacokinetics after the first administration was investigated in six children using nonlinear mixed effect modelling. RESULTS: Pharmacokinetics showed little variability and were described adequately with a one-compartment model (population estimates CL,av=0.29 l h(-1) kg(-1); V,av=0.84 l kg(-1); t(1/2)=1.7-2.8 h). Combined with limited sampling and a Bayesian fitting procedure, the model can adequately estimate the systemic exposure to intravenous busulfan, which in children appears to be at the lower end of the adult range. CONCLUSIONS: Busulfan systemic exposure in children during intravenous administration can be estimated adequately with limited sampling and a Bayesian fitting procedure from a one-compartment model. Intravenous busulfan pharmacokinetics in children should be the subject of more research.     

An evaluation of busulfan pharmacokinetics in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: Busulfan (BU) pharmacokinetics (PK) are shown to be highly variable and thus their evaluation is critical for the success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HST) in Caucasians. However, there are no data available for Japanese patients. METHODS: BU PK were evaluated in seven Japanese adult patients who underwent allogeneic HST. Four patients received 16 doses of 1 mg/kg of oral BU every 6 h for over 4 days followed by 120 mg/kg of intravenous cyclophosphamide, while three patients were given eight doses of 1 mg/kg of oral BU over 2 days in addition to 180 mg/kg of intravenous fludarabine with or without 2 Gy of total body irradiation. Blood samples were collected for PK analysis after the sixth dose of BU was administered. RESULTS: The average plasma BU concentrations at steady state (Css) ranged from 745 to 2422 ng/ml. Four of seven patients had BU Css >1000 ng/ml, the previously defined concentration associated with an increased risk of regimen-related toxicity (RRT). Indeed, one of them developed hepatic veno-occlusive disease. On the other hand, no severe toxicity greater than grade II except stomatitis was observed in the remaining patients whose Css were <1000 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: A possible increased risk of RRT associated with high plasma BU concentrations should be kept in mind after oral administration of BU. A prospective trial of adjusting BU doses depending on the BU PK is warranted for Japanese patients.