BladderCancer

Pharmacology
        

• Hande K, Messenger M, Wagner J, et al [ Vanderbilt Univ, Nashville, Tenn; Nashville Veterans Affairs Med Ctr, Tenn; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Princetion, NJ]
  Inter-and Intrapatient Variability in Etoposide Kinetics with Oral and Intravenous Drug Administration
  Clin Cancer Res 5: 2742-2747, 1999
      
  The toxicity following etoposide depends on total systemic exposure. This drug when given orally the levels are variable, both within patients and between patients. This leads to greater variability with toxicity. Whereas intravenously the blood levels and areas under the curve of this agent is much predictable.
              

• Venook AP, Egorin MJ, Rosner GL, et al [Univ opf California, San Francisco; Univ of Maryland, Baltimore; Duke Univ, Durham, NC; et al]
  Phase I and Pharmacokinetic Trial of Paclitaxel in Patients with Hepatic Dysfunction: Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9264
  J Clin Oncol 16: 1811-1819, 1998
    
  This study of 81 adults with cancer who required paclitaxel administration had abnormal liver function. Patients with bilirubin exceeding 1.5mg/dL had marked toxicity at all doses used. For patients with elevated AST level toxicity was common at doses ranging from 50 to 175 mg/m2 given over 24 hours. The dose limiting toxicity in most patients was myelosuppression partly due to changes in paclitaxel pharmakokinetics. This is due to its hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion.
      

• Navari RM, for the L-754,030 Antiemetic Trials Group [Simon-Williamson Clinic, Birmingham, ala; et al]
  Reduction of Cisplatin-Induced Emesis by a Selective Neurokinin-1-Receptor Antagonist
  N Engl J Med 340: 190-195, 1999
  Substance P in brain stem region is associated with vomiting. An neurokinin -1-receptor antagonist may act as an antiemetic in patients receiving cancer therapy.
       
  This study of 159 patients who had received cisplatin therapy for the first time received L-754, 030 for the prophylaxis against immediate or for delayed emesis after cisplatin administration. In addition it enhanced the immediate antiemesis effect of granisetron and dexamethasone.