Search

The optimum dose of TS-1 for the treatment of peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer in a patient with chronic renal failure undergoing chronic dialysis was estimated by monitoring the blood concentrations of 5-FU and gimeracil (CDHP) [therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)] during administration of TS-1. Immediately after dialysis, 50 mg or 40 mg of TS-1, corresponding to 50% and 40% of the standard dose (100mg for this patient), respectively, was administered orally once a day every other day, and TDM was conducted. Compared with the pharmacokinetic parameters of 5-FU at the time of the initial administration of 50 mg or 40 mg of TS-1 and that of cancer patients with normal renal function, the AUC shown in the administration of 40 mg was equivalent to that observed with a single safe dose of 100 mg in patients with normal renal function. Based on this observation, the daily TS-1 dose was set at 40 mg in this patient, and TS-1 treatment was started after confirming the absence of the accumulation of 5-FU or CDHP during repeated administrations. In this treatment protocol, TS-1 was administered 11 times at a daily dose of 40 mg every other day immediately after dialysis, followed by a rest. This .administration schedule was defined as one course. Under these conditions, the patient was treated on an outpatient basis, and the treatment could be safely continued without the development of any severe adverse events, such as myelosuppression.

Objective: S-1 is a novel oral fluorouracil antitumor drug that combines three pharmacological agents: tegafur (FT), a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine (CDHP), an inhibitor of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, and potassium oxonate (Oxo), a reducer of gastrointestinal toxicity. S-1 has safe and potent antitumor effects in patients with gastric cancer via these respective functions. However, the plasma 5-FU concentration is suspected to accumulate in patients with renal dysfunction, because 50% of the CDHP is excreted into the urine. There are no useful data on safety and efficacy of S-1 in chronic renal failure patients maintained on hemodialysis (HD). We examined the influence of HD on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of S-1 and its therapeutic efficacy in liver metastases from gastric cancer., Methods: For the HD patient, the dose of S-1 in a single-administration study was set at 50 mg/body/day (41.7% of the recommended dose of 80 mg/m2/day). S-1 was given to the patient 24 h after HD. Blood samples were obtained before administration and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 h thereafter and 1, 2, 4, and 72 h after the following HD session. The PK parameters (5-FU, CDHP, Oxo, and FT) were measured, and Cmax, Tmax, AUC0-24, and T1/2 were calculated. The dose of consecutive or maintained administrations was determined., Results: Both an increase in Cmax and an elongation of T1/2 for 5-FU, CDHP, and Oxo, but not for FT, occurred in this case as compared with controls. The AUC0-24 of 5-FU in this case was similar to that of controls at the standard dose. After HD, 87.8, 54.5, 77.4, and 66.2% of 5-FU, CDHP, Oxo, and FT, respectively, were eliminated. A slight accumulation of CDHP did not alter the 5-FU PK. Consecutive or maintained S-1 oral administration at the same dose showed similar effects on all PK parameters of a single-administration test. Liver metastases almost totally regressed with no adverse events 4 weeks after S-1 treatment (50 mg/body/day three times a week)., Conclusion: Adjusted doses of S-1 according to the results of PK studies may provide therapeutic safety and high efficacy in liver metastases from gastric cancer, even in chronic renal failure patients maintained on HD.