Pharmacokinetics of mitomycin C in patients receiving the drug alone or in combination.

We have characterized plasma pharmacokinetics in 30 patients receiving mitomycin C (mitomycin) in doses ranging from 6 to 20 mg/m2 by iv bolus injection, either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. Plasma elimination of the drug was described by a two-compartment model in all but three cases, giving mean values for alpha-half-life of 8.2 mins, beta-half-life of 51.8 mins, and total body clearance of 332.9 ml/min/m2. The mean urinary excretion was 8.1% of the total dose administered. We did not detect alterations in pharmacologic parameters related to liver dysfunction, dose of mitomycin, and concomitant administration of other cytotoxic drugs.