Adriamycin and methyl-CCNU combination therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical and pharmacokinetic aspects

Abstract

Twenty-one patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma) were treated with adriamycin (15-45 mg/m2 q21 D) and methyl-CCNU (75-150 mg/m2 q 63 D) with dosage adjusted for hepatic dysfunction. Objective response frequency was 14% with all responses occurring in patients with normal pretreatment bilirubin levels. Median survival of all patients was 87 days. Initial bilirubin levels greater than 2 mg/dl predicted for decreased survival (median 30 days vs. 115 days, P less than 0.05). Only moderate hematologic toxicity was observed. Plasma profiles of Adriamycin and adriamycinol were determined during 11 courses of Adriamycin administration in seven of these patients. Despite moderately elevated transaminase levels (all cases) and bilirubin levels (three cases), plasma Adriamycin profiles in hepatoma patients were not elevated (terminal half-life of 30 hours) and were indistinguishable from that of non-hepatoma patients with normal liver functions. However, delayed appearance of peak levels and prolongation of terminal half-lives were routinely observed for adriamycinol, a major metabolite of Adriamycin. This resulted ina significant increase in the CXT (concentration X time) ratio of adriamycinol/Adriamycin in hepatoma patients compared with nonhepatoma patients (2.36 +/- 2.12 vs 0.76 +/- 0.31, (P less than 0.05). We conclude that the combination of relatively mild toxicity and normal Adriamycin disposition indicates unusual tolerance to Adriamycin therapy for patients with hepatoma and cirrhosis. As a result, severe dosage adjustments of Adriamycin may not be indicated for all such patients having only moderate hepatic dysfunction.