A rapid and simple HPLC assay for quantification of capecitabine for drug monitoring purposes.

AIM

Capecitabine, a 5-fluorouracil prodrug, has been integrated into the management of multiple cancer types. In order to obtain information about plasma levels of capecitabine in patients who had drug intake at home during chemotherapy, a simple HPLC method for capecitabine monitoring has been developed and validated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Capecitabine levels were quantified by a simple reversed-phase HPLC system with an external standard method. Plasma samples were obtained from 12 colorectal cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy with capecitabine alone (1000 mg/m(2)) or combined with oxaliplatin (130 mg/m(2)).

RESULTS

Although there was evidence that capecitabine had not been taken according to the chemotherapeutic schedule in two cases, the study demonstrated that its combination with oxaliplatin showed no significant drug-drug interactions.

CONCLUSION

Due to its robustness, specificity and sensitivity, the method is also well-suited for capecitabine analysis in other pharmacokinetic studies.