Clinical pharmacokinetics and exposure-toxicity relationship of a folate-Vinca alkaloid conjugate EC145 in cancer patients

J Clin Pharmacol. 2009 Dec;49(12):1467-76. doi: 10.1177/0091270009339740. Epub 2009 Oct 16.

Abstract

The clinical pharmacokinetics and exposure-toxicity relationship were determined for EC145, a conjugate of folic acid and the Vinca alkaloid desacetylvinblastine hydrazide (DAVLBH), in cancer patients. EC145 plasma concentration and toxicity data were obtained from a first-in-man phase I study and analyzed by nonlinear mixed effect modeling with NONMEM. EC145 concentration-time profile after intravenous administration was well described by a 2-compartment model with a first-order elimination process from the central compartment. BSA was identified as a significant covariate on EC145 clearance, accounting for 14.6% of interindividual variation on EC145 clearance. Population estimates for the clearance, steady-state volume of distribution, distribution, and elimination half-lives were 56.1 L/h, 26.1 L, 6 minutes, and 26 minutes, respectively. Constipation and peripheral neuropathy were the most common and clinically relevant toxicities. The clearance and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were significant predictors for the incidence of EC145-induced constipation but not peripheral neuropathy. In conclusion, EC145 is rapidly distributed and eliminated in cancer patients. BSA is a statistically significant covariate on EC145 clearance, but its clinical relevance remains to be defined. EC145-induced constipation occurs at a higher frequency in the patients with lower EC145 clearance, where the drug exposure tends to be higher.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Body Surface Area
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Constipation / chemically induced
  • Female
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Folic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Folic Acid / adverse effects
  • Folic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Folic Acid / blood
  • Folic Acid / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Vinblastine / analogs & derivatives
  • Vinblastine / blood
  • Vinca Alkaloids / administration & dosage
  • Vinca Alkaloids / adverse effects*
  • Vinca Alkaloids / blood
  • Vinca Alkaloids / pharmacokinetics*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • EC145
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Vinca Alkaloids
  • 4-desacetylvinblastine hydrazide
  • Vinblastine
  • Folic Acid