Tumor concentration of platinum in patients with head and neck cancer.

Simultaneous concentrations of total plasma platinum, filterable platinum, intact cisplatin, and total tumor platinum were measured for 24 hours after an intravenous bolus of cisplatin in five patients. Tumor concentrations of drug were greater than could be explained on the basis of circulating plasma platinum at the time of biopsy. Intratumor platinum concentrations derived from this study provide guidance for selection of the appropriate drug concentrations for in vitro chemosensitivity testing of head and neck cancer in humans.