Clinical pharmacokinetics of drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer.

This article reviews the absorption, bioavailability, distribution, metabolism, and elimination patterns of the agents most commonly used for the treatment of breast cancer. Although the majority of the pharmacokinetic studies reviewed have been examined in non-breast cancer patients, the kinetic findings are not significantly altered by disease state. The anthracyclines, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, antioestrogens and mitotic inhibitors are among the classes of agents used to treat breast cancer. Although extensively examined, cancer pharmacokinetic research has resulted in very few clinically relevant findings in breast cancer.