Rapid distribution of adriamycin in the ascitic and pleural fluid of women with ovarian carcinomas.

Adriamycin has been detected by high-pressure liquid chromatography in ascites and pleural fluid within 30 min after intravenous injection of Adriamycin (50 mg/m2). The concentration of Adriamycin was approximately one-half of that in plasma. Significant concentrations of Adriamycin metabolites were seen in the ascites fluid of one patient 4 hr after intravenous drug injection. Individual variability in the achievable ascites and pleural concentrations of cytotoxic drugs may be important in determining the responsiveness of patients to chemotherapy and the described analytical technique should be useful in assessing the concentrations of Adriamycin and its metabolites in malignant ascites and pleural effusions.