Pharmacokinetics and toxicity of two modalities of etoposide infusion in metastatic non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

The pharmacokinetics and toxicity of two schedules of etoposide administration were studied in 19 patients suffering from metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Ten subjects received a 72-h continuous venous infusion (CVI) of 360 mg/m2 etoposide, and nine were given a daily dose of 120 mg/m2 for 3 consecutive days. In the two groups 80 mg/m2 cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) was infused on day 1. With CVI, the steady-state plasma concentration was reached 12-24 h after the start of the treatment. The plasma elimination rate showed a biexponential decay curve in both groups. No significant difference between total body clearance and the beta-phase volume of distribution was noted between the two modalities of administration. No relationship was found between biological and pharmacokinetic parameters.