Plasma filtration for the controlled removal of liposomal therapeutics - From the apheretic site of view.

INTRODUCTION

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems can overcome the dose-limited toxicity of cytostatics. Pegylated doxorubicin-containing liposomes (PLD) are able to reduce cardiotoxicity. PLD quickly (in 2 days) attains therapeutic concentration in tumorous tissue (kinetic targeting), while its distribution in normal tissue, which is a cause of mucocutaneous toxicity (MCT), is delayed. We examined PLD extracorporeal removal effectivity, using plasma filtration (PF) to determine whether the drug could be withheld prior to its organ distribution responsible for MCT toxicity.

METHODS

Nine patients suffering from platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were treated with a infusion of 50 mg/m2 of PLD/cycle - for four cycles q4w. Over 44 (46)-47 (49) hours postinfusion, the patients (14 cycles in total) underwent PF using the cascade method. Doxorubicin blood concentration was monitored by the HPLC method during 116 h. Individual pharmacokinetic parameters of doxorubicin were estimated.

RESULTS

Over 44 (46)-47 (49) hours postinfusion, a single one-volume plasma filtration removed 35 (22-45) % of the remaining doxorubicin amount in the body. Symptoms of MCT - PPE-like syndrome (grade 3) appeared in one patient. Only one adverse reaction (1/14-7%) - short-term malaise and nausea - was reported as being related to PF.

CONCLUSION

PF does remove a clinically important amount of doxorubicin in a kinetic targeting approach, which can be a useful tool for the increased efficacy and tolerability of therapy with PLD. There were no serious signs of drug toxicity and/or PF-related adverse events.