Demicheli R, Bonciarelli G, Jirillo A, Foroni R, Petrosino L, Targa L, Garusi G
Tumori. 1985 Feb 28;71(1):63-8. doi: 10.1177/030089168507100112.
Seventy intraperitoneal administrations of doxorubicin were performed in 12 patients with malignant disease in the abdominopelvic space. Peritoneal and hematologic drug levels were measured by fluorimetric assay. A first-order decline in the peritoneal level was determined (T 1/2 96 +/- 18 min), with a mean drug absorption of 84% in 4 h (range 40-96%) and a mean ratio of a peak dialysate/peak serum level of 111 (range 12-390). Gastrointestinal toxicity was common and peritoneal phlogosis occurred twice. The doxorubicin level and the time of peritoneal exposure seem to be critical factors for major local toxicity. At a moderate concentration doxorubicin can be intraperitoneally administered, but its usefulness is probably confined to patients with minimal abdominal disease.
