Pharmacokinetics of docetaxel in gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intravenous (i.v.) administration allowed docetaxel to penetrate ascites in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twelve patients with disseminated gastric carcinoma were enrolled in the study. All patients received docetaxel-containing drug regimens: i.v. administration of 40 mg/m(2) docetaxel in 6 patients, and 60 mg/m(2) in the remainder. Docetaxel concentrations in the plasma and ascites were measured.

RESULTS

Docetaxel was detected in the ascites of 4 patients in the 40 mg/m(2) group and 5 patients in the 60 mg/m(2) group. The highest concentration of docetaxel in plasma was detected at immediately after administration (median: 1,660 ng/mL, 501-2,560 ng/mL), after which it gradually decreased. The highest concentration of docetaxel in ascites was observed at ~7 h after administration and varied among cases (median: 18 ng/mL, 11-52 ng/mL).

CONCLUSION

Intravenous administration allows to penetrate ascites in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination.