Dosage of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies: a cardinal open question.

Discovery and clinical development of monoclonal antibodies with the ability to interfere in the regulation of the immune response have significantly changed the landscape of oncology in recent years. Among the active agents licensed by the regulatory agencies, nivolumab and pembrolizumab are paradigmatic as the most relevant ones according to the magnitude of available data derived from the extensive preclinical and clinical experience. Although in both cases the respective data sheets indicate well-defined dosage regimens, a review of the literature permits to verify the existence of many issues still unresolved about dosing the two agents, so it must be considered an open question of potentially important consequences, in which to work to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of use.

[Stability study of oxaliplatin and doxorubicin for intraperitoneal administration with hyperthermia]. / Estudio de estabilidad de oxaliplatino y doxorrubicina para su administración intraperitoneal con hipertermia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vitro physicochemical stability of oxaliplatin and doxorubicin when the in vivo hyperthermic intraperitoneal conditions are reproduced. METHODS: Three solutions were prepared, A (oxaliplatin 200 mg/L), B(doxorubicin 15 mg/L) and C (oxaliplatin 200 mg/L with doxorubicin 15mg/L) in glucose 5%. The three solutions were subjected to the maximum temperature reached in vivo (49° C) for two hours. Physical stability was focused on visual control of particles or precipitates in solutions, discharge of gases, odor and color. Samples were taken every 15 minutes and the chemical stability was evaluated by determining the concentration of oxaliplatin and doxorubicin remaining in the samples. Oxaliplatin concentrations were determined by atomic absorption graphite chamber while doxorubicin was determined by high performance liquid chromatography.The chemical stability criteria selected was the one described by the American Pharmacopoeia, which sets a permissible variation range between the 90-110% of the initial concentration. RESULTS: During the assay there was no appearance of particles, precipitates in the samples, discharge of gases, nor colour changes in the solutions. The samples showed a remaining concentration of oxaliplatin and doxorubicin within the 90-110% limit. The stability of the samples that follow to two cycles of freeze-thaw after hyperthermia was also found within the specified limits. CONCLUSION: A, B and c solutions in 5% glucose, are physically and chemically stable at 49° C for two hours. Under these conditions, these solutions could be used with guarantees of stability in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis subsidiary of intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy based in these antineoplastic agents.

Objetivo: Determinar in vitro la estabilidad físico-química de oxaliplatino ydoxorrubicina en las condiciones de hipertermia utilizadas in vivo duranteel tratamiento de pacientes con carcinomatosis peritoneal, tras cirugía citorreductora.Métodos: Se prepararon tres disoluciones: A (oxaliplatino 200 mg/L), B(doxorrubicina 15 mg/L) y C (oxaliplatino 200 mg/L + doxorrubicina 15 mg/L)en glucosa al 5%. Las tres disoluciones se sometieron a la temperaturamáxima alcanzada in vivo (49º C) durante dos horas. La estabilidad física secentró en el control visual de partículas y/o precipitados en las disoluciones,el desprendimiento de gases, olor y color. Para controlar la estabilidad química,se extrajeron muestras cada 15 minutos desde el inicio del estudio yse determinó la concentración remanente de oxaliplatino y doxorrubicina enlas mismas. Las concentraciones de oxaliplatino se determinaron por absorciónatómica con cámara de grafito mientras que doxorrubicina se determinómediante cromatografía líquida de alta resolución. Como criterio deestabilidad química se seleccionó el establecido en la Farmacopea Americanaque establece un margen de variación permitido entre el 90-110% de laconcentración inicial.Resultados: Durante el tiempo de ensayo, no se observó la aparición departículas o precipitados, ni el desprendimiento de gases o cambios decolor en las disoluciones. Las muestras analizadas presentaron una concentraciónremanente de oxaliplatino y doxorrubicina dentro del límite de 90-110%. La estabilidad de las muestras sometidas a dos ciclos de congelación-descongelación tras la hipertermia también se encontró dentro de loslímites especificados.Conclusiones: Las disoluciones A, B y C en glucosa al 5%, son establesfísica y químicamente a 49º C, durante dos horas. En estas condiciones,podrían ser utilizadas con garantías de estabilidad en pacientes con carcinomatosisperitoneal subsidiarios de recibir quimioterapia intraperitonealcon hipertermia basada en estos agentes antineoplásicos.

[Influence of genetic polymorphisms in UGT1A1, UGT1A7 and UGT1A9 on the pharmacokynetics of irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38G]. / Influencia de los polimorfismos genéticos en UGT1A1, UGT1A7 y UGT1A9 sobre la farmacocinética de irinotecán, SN-38 y SN-38G.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of genetic polymorphism in UGT1A1, UGT1A7 and UGT1A9 on the population pharmacokinetics of irinotecan and its metabolites, SN-38 and SN-38G. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of irinotecan, SN-38 and SN- 38G from 72 patients were pooled to develop a population pharmacokinetic model using NONMEM VII. M3 method was used to account for plasma concentrations below the limit quantification. The effect of age, sex, body surface area, total bilirubin, co-medication, tumor type, and UGT1A1, UGT1A7 and UGT1A9 genotypes on the model parameters was evaluated. The model was internally validated using normalized visual predictive check (NVPC) and normalized predictive distribution errors (NPDE). RESULTS: The typical values (between-subject variability; %) of the irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38G clearances were 42,9 L/h (56,4%), 1340 L/h (76,8%) and 188 L/h (70,1%), respectively. The presence of UGT1A1*28, UGT1A7*3, UGT1A9*22 genotypes decreases SN-38 clearance between 20 and 36%. Internal validation confirms the population pharmacokinetic model describe the time course of irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38G plasma concentration and their associated variability in cancer patients. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of pharmacokinetic-pharmacogenomic information can add value to the individualized dose adjustment of irinotecan, because it will let quantitatively handle dose reductions in patients with iatrogenic toxicity due to UGT1A1 genetic polymorphisms.

Objetivo: Evaluar la influencia de los polimorfismos genéticos en UGT1A1, UGT1A7 y UGT1A9 sobre la farmacocinética poblacional de irinotecán y sus metabolitos, SN-38 y SN-38G. Metodología: Las concentraciones plasmáticas de irinotecán, SN-38 y SN-38G determinadas en 72 pacientes se utilizaron para desarrollar un modelo farmacocinético poblacional en el programa NONMEM VII. Se empleó el método M3 para incluir en el análisis las concentraciones por debajo del límite de cuantificación de la técnica analítica. Se evaluó el efecto de la edad, sexo, superficie corporal, bilirrubina total, medicación concomitante, tipo de tumor y polimorfismos genéticos en UGT1A1, UGT1A7 y UGT1A9 sobre los parámetros farmacocineticos del modelo. La validación interna del modelo farmacocinético se realizó mediante normalized visual predictive check (NVPC) y normalized predictive distribution error (NPDE). Resultados: El valor medio (variabilidad interpaciente, %) del aclaramiento de irinotecán, SN-38 y SN-38G ha sido 42,9 (56,4%), 1340 (76,8%) y 188 L/h (70,1%), respectivamente. La presencia de alelos con baja actividad enzimática (UGT1A1*28, UGT1A7*3 y UGT1A9*22) redujo el aclaramiento de SN-38 entre un 20 y un 36%. La validación interna ha confirmado que el modelo farmacocinético poblacional resulta adecuado para describir la evolución temporal de las concentraciones plasmáticas de irinotecán, SN-38 y SN-38G y su variabilidad en pacientes oncológicos. Conclusión: La inclusión de información farmacocinética-farmacogenética puede añadir valor a la personalización de la dosificación de irinotecán por cuanto que permitirá manejar cuantitativamente las reducciones de dosis en pacientes con toxicidad iatrogénica debido a los polimorfismos genéticos en UGT1A1.

[Population pharmacokinetics applied to optimising cisplatin doses in cancer patients]. / Farmacocinética poblacional de cisplatino aplicada a la personalización de su dosificación en pacientes oncológicos.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and internally validate a population pharmacokinetics model for cisplatin and assess its prediction capacity for personalising doses in cancer patients. METHOD: Cisplatin plasma concentrations in forty-six cancer patients were used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model implemented in NONMEN VI software. Pharmacokinetic parameter identification capacity was assessed using the parametric bootstrap method and the model was validated using the nonparametric bootstrap method and standardised visual and numerical predictive checks. The final model's prediction capacity was evaluated in terms of accuracy and precision during the first (a priori) and second (a posteriori) chemotherapy cycles. RESULTS: Mean population cisplatin clearance is 1.03 L/h with an interpatient variability of 78.0%. Estimated distribution volume at steady state was 48.3 L, with inter- and intrapatient variabilities of 31,3% and 11,7%, respectively. Internal validation confirmed that the population pharmacokinetics model is appropriate to describe changes over time in cisplatin plasma concentrations, as well as its variability in the study population. The accuracy and precision of a posteriori prediction of cisplatin concentrations improved by 21% and 54% compared to a priori prediction. CONCLUSION: The population pharmacokinetic model developed adequately described the changes in cisplatin plasma concentrations in cancer patients and can be used to optimise cisplatin dosing regimes accurately and precisely.

[Populational pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin applied to personalised its dosing in cancer patients]. / Farmacocinética poblacional de doxorubicina aplicada a la personalización de su dosificación en pacientes oncológicos.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and internally validate a population pharmacokinetic model for doxorubicin and to evaluate its predictive performance for dose individualization in cancer patients. METHODS: Doxorubicin plasma concentrations were determined in thirty-three cancer patients treated with intravenous doxorubicin. A three-compartment pharmacokinetic model was implemented in the NONMEN VI programme to determine the doxorubicin pharmacokinetic parameters. The identifiability of the parameters was assessed by parametric bootstrap and model validation was performed using nonparametric bootstrap, visual predictive check, and numerical predictive check. The final model's predictive performance was evaluated in terms of accuracy and precision of plasma concentration predictions during the first and second cycles of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Doxorubicin clearance was 58.8 L/h, with interpatient variability of 29.2% and intrapatient variability of 18.9%. The estimated volume of distribution at steady state was 2294 L, with inter-and intrapatient variability of 7.3% and 26.1%, respectively. Internal validation confirmed that the population pharmacokinetic model is appropriate to describe the time course of the doxorubicin plasma concentrations and its variability in this population. The accuracy and precision of an a posteriori prediction of doxorubicin plasma concentrations improved by 63% and 41% compared to the a priori prediction. CONCLUSION: The Bayesian population pharmacokinetic model characterised the time course of doxorubicine plasma concentrations and can be accurately and precisely used to optimise doxorubicine dosing regimens in cancer patients.

[Population pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine applied to personalize the dosage used in cancer patients]. / Farmacocinética poblacional de gemcitabina aplicada a la personalización de su dosificación en pacientes oncológicos.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and internally validate a population pharmacokinetic model for gemcitabine and its metabolite 2',2'-difluorodeoxyuridine (dFdU); and to evaluate its predictive perfomance for personalizing the dosage used in cancer patients. METHODS: Gemcitabine and dFdU plasma concentrations were determined in 18 cancer patients. A 2-compartment pharmacokinetic model was implemented in the NONMEN VI program to determine the appropriate pharmacokinetic parameters. The power to identify the parameters was assessed by parametric bootstrap, and the internal model validation was performed using nonparametric bootstrap and visual and numerical predictive check methods. The final predictive performance of the model was assessed for accuracy and precision during the first (a priori) and second (a posteriori) chemotherapy cycles. RESULTS: The mean and interpatient variability of gemcitabine and dFdU clearance was 2.70 L/min (31.0%) and 0.0515 L/min (35.8%), respectively. The estimated distribution volume at steady state was 30 L for gemcitabine and 238 L for dFdU. Internal validation confirmed that the population pharmacokinetic model was appropriate for describing the plasma concentrations of gemcitabine and dFdU over time, as well as its variability in the study population. The accuracy and precision of a posteriori gemcitabine plasma concentrations improved by 67% and 46%, respectively, compared to the a priori prediction. CONCLUSION: The population pharmacokinetic model adequately characterised the gemcitabine and dFdU plasma concentrations in the study population over time, and can be used to accurately and precisely optimise gemcitabine dosing regimens in cancer patients.