Antineoplastic agents pharmacokinetics

Patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy very often need concomitant administrating of antiemetic therapy. Such protocols will start well in advance of administering the cytotoxic, and last for a reasonable time with regard to pharmacokinetics of the antineoplastic agent. In addition, side effects of antineoplastic therapy are made better tolerable by supportive care. 

Before discussing the specific pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of each class of antineoplastic agents, several fundamental concepts and therapeutic objectives will be considered first. 

I. Pharmacokinetics. Most oral antineoplastic agents are readily absorbed, with peak levels reached within 1-2 hours of ingestion. Due to rapid intracellular incorporation and the delayed onset of toxicity, pharmacokinetic values are usually of little utility in managing acute overdose. (See also Table 11-59.)... 

Phillips, L.R., L. Malspeis, and J.G. Supko, 1995. Pharmacokinetics of active drug metabolites after oral administration of perillyl alcohol, an investigational antineoplastic agent, to the dog. Drug Metab. Dispos., 23 676-680. 

Most of the F NMR studies are related to anaesthetic, psychoactive and antineoplastic drugs. The distribution of anaesthetics in the brain and the pharmacokinetics of their elimination are still a subject of controversy. The feasibility of in vivo F NMR studies of halothane in humans has been recently demonstrated. Resonances attributable to this compound were observed up to 90 min after withdrawal of the anaesthetic agent in eight patients. 

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