Peak cerebrospinal fluid platinum levels in a patient with ependymoma: evaluation of two different methods of cisplatin administration.

Peak CSF and serum platinum levels were examined in a patient with ependymoma after each of four consecutive cisplatin doses of 100 mg/m2 administered by either 30-minute or 3-hour infusion. Both infusion lengths produced similar peak CSF platinum levels within 2 hours after the completion. Ultrafiltrate serum platinum levels correlated with the CSF platinum levels, whereas total plasma platinum did not. No differences in clinical toxicity or response were seen between the two methods of administration. Based on these preliminary results, similar peak CSF platinum concentrations are achieved by 30-minute or 3-hour infusions, and ultrafiltrate serum platinum concentrations can be used to predict these levels.