Abstract
Objectives: Pemetrexed is indicated for non-small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma. Dosing is based on body surface are (BSA), while renal function is the only determinant for exposure and thus toxicity. BSA-based dosing introduces large variability in exposure and may lead to (hemato)toxicity in patients with impaired renal function. Therefore, pemetrexed is contraindicated in renal impairment. The presented cases provide proof-of concept for pharmacokinetically-guided dosing of pemetrexed in a haemodialysis patient and a patient with mild renal impairment.
Methods: The pharmacokinetic target was an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 123-205 mg.h/L. Using a previously developed population pharmacokinetic model, individual pharmacokinetics were estimated.
Results: Both patients had an exposure above target after the initial dose, but a proportional dose reduction resulted in a therapeutic exposure in both patients (185 and 166 mg.h/L, respectively), that was well-tolerated. Interestingly, a threefold increase in systemic clearance of pemetrexed was observed during hemodialysis (from 1.00 L/h to 3.01 L/h), which approximates the population clearance of pemetrexed.
Conclusion: Altogether, we showed that pharmacokinetically-guided dosing of pemetrexed may be a feasible strategy for patients with lung cancer and renal impairment.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 156-158 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Lung Cancer |
Volume | 130 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2019 |
Keywords
- Pemetrexed
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Renal impairment
- Pharmacokinetics
- CANCER