Comparative study on the pharmacokinetics of 7-hydroxy-methotrexate after administration of methotrexate in the dose range of 0.5-33.6 g/m2 to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Concentrations of 7-hydroxy-methotrexate (7-OH-MTX) were determined in serum samples obtained after 266 infusions of methotrexate administered to 58 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The dose of methotrexate (MTX) was in the range of 0.5-33.6 g/m2. Pharmacokinetic parameters (metabolic index, drug/metabolite ratio, half-life) of 7-OH-MTX and their relationship to the kinetics of methotrexate were analyzed. A great variability was observed in the extent and time-course of the metabolite formation. The concentration of the metabolite was higher than that of the parent compound at any examined time after the end of the 24 hours' infusion. The increase of 7-OH-MTX levels at the end of the methotrexate infusion was found to be proportionate to the increase of the dose of MTX. Males had significantly higher metabolite levels than did females (P less than 0.01) in the dose range of 0.5-8.0 g/m2. The age of the patients also significantly influenced the rate of the metabolite formation. The serial number of the treatment courses did not have effect on the metabolism of MTX. Dose dependency of the elimination half-life of the metabolite was found. Although a tendency was observed that patients in continuous complete remission had higher metabolite levels than those who relapsed, the difference was not significant. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical importance of 7-OH-MT.     

High-dose methotrexate therapy (6-8 g/m2) in childhood malignancies: clinical tolerability and pharmacokinetics

Five children, ages 2.5 to 12 years (mean 6.2 years), with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were given 22 courses of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) therapy (6-8 g/m2/24 h). No serious clinical complications were encountered, but stomatitis occurred after three (14%) of the courses. First-phase elimination half-lives (t1/2(alpha)) of MTX and 7-hydroxy-methotrexate (7-OH-MTX) after 21 infusions were 2.7 +/- 0.4 h and 6.5 +/- 1.8 h (mean +/- SD). In one course (4.5%) there was delayed systemic MTX elimination, with first-phase elimination half-lives (t1/2(alpha] for MTX and 7-OH-MTX of 4.2 and 9.9 h, respectively, and second-phase elimination half-lives (t1/2(beta)) of 43 and 58 h. Significant decreases in white blood cell count, increases in serum creatinine, and increases in alanine aminotransferase and/or aspartate aminotransferase during the first 2-6 days were present in five (23%), three (14%), and six (27%) of the courses, respectively. The regimen was tolerated well by the children.     

Influence of high-dose methotrexate therapy (HD-MTX) on glomerular and tubular kidney function

BACKGROUND: The present investigation was intended to further clarify the mechanisms involved in renal dysfunction following high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty eight predominately pediatric patients [39 male, 19 female; mean age 12.3 years (range 2.2-34.1)] suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 28), Non Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL, n = 13), osteosarcoma (n = 8), malignant brain tumor (n = 6), or an ALL relapse (n = 3), were prospectively examined. In the course of 220 infusions of HD-MTX, glomerular and tubular renal function was determined by measuring proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as well as renal excretion of alpha-1-microglobulin (AMG) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). It was investigated whether there were differences in MTX toxicity in dependence on the administered dose (1, 5, or 12 g/m(2) BSA), on the combination with other cytostatic agents (ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide), on the metabolism of MTX into 7-OH-MTX, and on pre-treatment with MTX. RESULTS: The administration of HD-MTX has no direct tubulotoxic effect. The disturbance in glomerular function was dose dependently and indicated by an increase in proteinuria as well as by a decrease in GFR; all changes were completely reversible and did not correlate to the metabolism of MTX to 7-OH-MTX. Increasing the number of MTX therapeutic cycles did not increase the nephrotoxicity of MTX. CONCLUSION: MTX is not directly tubulotoxic. Its side effects on glomeruli are usually without clinical relevance.     

Anaphylactoid reaction to high-dose methotrexate and re-administration after a successful desensitization

Methotrexate (MTX) is an antimetabolite with a major role in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The authors report the management of a 9-year-old boy who developed an anaphylactoid reaction to high-dose MTX infusion, after a first challenge with intrathecal administration, during induction therapy for ALL. A desensitization protocol was followed and MTX tolerance has been successfully achieved, allowing this patient to complete the needed chemotherapy.     

Progression of osteosarcoma after high-dose methotrexate: over-rescue by folinic acid

A 16-year-old girl with a distal femur osteosarcoma became pain-free with the first treatment of methotrexate 12.5 g/m 2 and folinic acid 760 mg/m 2 . She was inadvertently given 1275 mg folinic acid after the third dose. Four days later, pain and swelling recurred. Appreciating that this was "over rescue" rather than drug resistance led to the successful use of a further 8 doses of high-dose methotrexate when a suboptimal response was achieved with cisplatinum, Adriamycin, and ifosfamide. This is the first time "over rescue" has been documented in humans from high-dose folinic acid after methotrexate.     

大剂量甲氨蝶呤化疗对急性淋巴细胞白血病患儿肠道菌群的影响

目的 探讨大剂量甲氨蝶呤(HDMTX)化疗对急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)患儿肠道菌群的影响.方法 收集36名HDMTX化疗前后ALL患儿及36名健康对照组儿童的粪便标本,并提取目标细菌DNA.用细菌的16SrRNA/DNA序列设计双歧杆菌和大肠杆菌的引物,行常规PCR完成细菌的定性,然后取准确定量的2种细菌DNA,经系列稀释后做荧光定量PCR,制作出标准曲线,待测样品同时进行荧光定量PCR反应,并和标准曲线进行比较,获得各样品中2种细菌的量.结果 ALL组HDMTX化疗前1 d、化疗后第3、7天和对照组的肠道双歧杆菌数量的对数值分别为(7.24±0.33)拷贝数/克湿便、(6.00±0.27)拷贝数/克湿便、(6.59±0.33)拷贝数/克湿便和(9.49±0.41)拷贝数/克湿便;而大肠杆菌数量的对数值,ALL组化疗前1 d、化疗后第3、7天和对照组的分别是(6.62±0.42)拷贝数/克湿便,(5.96±0.42)拷贝数/克湿便,(7.02±0.41)拷贝数/克湿便,(7.52±0.43)拷贝数/克湿便.双歧杆菌和大肠杆菌对照组均较ALL组高(F=739.61,88.67,P均＜0.01).ALL组化疗前和后,大便标本中双歧杆菌和大肠杆菌数量变化差异有统计学意义(P均＜0.01),其中化疗第3天下降最明显,第7天有所回升.结论 (1)HDMTX化疗方案对ALL患儿肠道双歧杆菌和大肠杆菌有明显影响,化疗后数量显著下降;(2)ALL患儿肠道菌群和健康儿童相比,益生菌明显减少.     

Early neurotoxicity of high-dose of methotrexate and tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency]

Transient neurologic dysfunction associated with high-dose methotrexate and citrovorum factor rescue (MTX-CF) has been previously reported. At the biochemical level, there are at least two important pathways in central nervous system metabolism which might be disturbed by MTX: MTX may deplete the cell of the de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides and thymidylate through its action on dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and also inhibit dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR), an enzyme maintaining the cofactor of phenylalanine-hydroxylase in its active tetrahydrogenated form (tetrahydrobiopterin), and hence interfere with the supply of the neurotransmitters derived from tyrosine and tryptophan. We describe such a neurologic disease in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving chemotherapy. Significant increase in cerebrospinal fluid biopterins supports the hypothesis of an inhibition of dihydropteridine reductase by MTX, and provides additional suggestions in terms of etiology, diagnosis and treatment.     

四氢叶酸钙对大剂量甲氨蝶呤化疗大鼠肠黏膜保护作用的研究

目的探讨不同剂量和时间四氢叶酸钙(calcium5-formyltetrahydrofolate,CF)对大剂量甲氨蝶呤(high-dose methotrexate,HDMTX)化疗大鼠肠黏膜的保护作用。方法实验分两部分,均分5组,设正常对照组(A组,腹腔注射生理盐水),和空白对照组(B组,腹腔注射MTX,不予CF解救)。第一部分:不同剂量CF对HDMTX化疗大鼠肠黏膜的保护作用。C组:1%CF解救组;D组:2%CF解救组;E组:8%CF解救组(百分数为CF总量占MTX的百分比)。C、D、E组腹腔注射MTX,于注射后12h肌注CF,A、B组肌注生理盐水,6小时一次,共7次。第二部分:不同时间CF对HDMTX化疗入鼠肠黏膜的保护作用,C组:12h解救组;D组:24h解救组;E组:30h解救组。C、D、E组腹腔注射MTX。C、D、E组分别于腹腔注射HDMTX后12、24、30h予肌注CF,CF总剂量为MTX的5%;A、B组于腹腔注射后24h分别肌注生理盐水,各组均6小时一次,共7次。于腹腔注射后78h处死存活大鼠,取空肠标本观察形态,测定绒毛长度和隐窝深度。结果两部分均A组肠壁厚弹性好,绒毛密集、排列整齐,B、C、D、E组肠壁充血水肿变薄,和A组比较,小肠绒毛变短,隐窝深度变浅,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);第一部分B、C组改变较D、E组更明显(P<0.05);C组与B组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);D组与E组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。第二部分B、E组改变较C、D组更显著(P<0.05);B组与E组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);C组与D组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论CF对HDMTX所致大鼠肠黏膜损害有保护作用;其保护作用存在剂量和时间依赖性。     

Plasma and urine levels of methotrexate and 7-hydroxymethotrexate in children with all during maintenance therapy with weekly oral methotrexate

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic assay was used to determine methotrexate (MTX) and its main metabolite, 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7-OH-MTX), in the plasma (n - 17) and urine (n = 14) of children (age 3-12 years) on maintenance therapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia (n = 14) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 3). Each child received oral doses of weekly MTX (4.0-29 mg/m²) and daily 6-mer-captopurine (40-111 mg/m²). Plasma samples were collected daily from two children during the 1-week dose interval. A limited sampling strategy was designed, whereby 2 days of blood sampling were used in the other 15 patients. Morning urine samples were collected daily for 1 week following MTX intake from 14 of the children. MTX was detectable in all plasma and urine samples for the entire dose interval. The main metabolite, 7-OH-MTX, could be detected in plasma and urine from all patients on the first day after dose intake but only in a few patients during the whole dose interval. Interpatient variability of MTX and 7-OH-MTX levels was high at all points during the week. Significant correlation were found between the urinary MTX levels on days 2 and 7 and plasma MTX levels on day 2 after intake. No significant correlation was found between drug levels in plasma or urine and liver function tests in the children showing signs of mild liver injury. This assay provides a tool for further studies on the role of pharmacokinetics for the clinical effects of weekly oral low-dose MTX given alone or in combination with 6-mercaptopurine. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Retrospective study on elimination delay of methotrexate in high-dose therapy of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in China

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to observe the morbidity of elimination delay in Chinese children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) therapy and the toxicities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 121 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on HDMTX therapy were enrolled into this study. Patients were divided into groups on the basis of either dosage (3 g/m vs. 5 g/m) or infusion duration (7 h vs. 24 h). CF/MTX index was used to determine the calcium folinate (CF) rescuing intensity and toxicity was evaluated according to World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS: The overall morbidity of elimination delay was 12.1% in a total of 497 infusions. Patients with elimination delay had lower platelet count (P<0.01) and greater cumulative CF rescuing intensity (P<0.001). In 3-g group, children with elimination delay experienced severer oral mucous membrane damage (P<0.05) than those without elimination delay, and postponement of following chemotherapy (P=0.001). No significant difference was found in morbidity of elimination delay between 3 and 5-g groups (P>0.05) or 7 and 24-hour infusion groups (P>0.05). The only raised adverse effect in 5-g group was gastrointestinal (P=0.003) as compared with 3-g group. The CF rescuing intensity of 5-g group without elimination delay was lower than that of the 3-g group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: (1) HDMTX with 5 g/m is as safe as 3 g/m under adequate hydration and alkalization. Twenty-four-hour infusion is optimal. (2) Individualized dosing is necessary.     

Severe lactic acidosis due to thiamine deficiency in a patient with B-cell leukemia/lymphoma on total parenteral nutrition during high-dose methotrexate therapy

An 11-month-old girl with B-cell leukemia/lymphoma developed profound lethargy due to severe lactic acidosis during chemotherapy and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Initial treatment with NaHCO3 was ineffective. Treatment with a vitamin cocktail (OH-cobalamin, pyridoxine, thiamine, riboflavine, biotin, carnitine) at pharmacologic doses rapidly improved the child's clinical and laboratory status. Lactic acidosis was caused by an impairment of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, which was due to lack of its necessary cofactor thiamine in the TPN. This case report indicates that lactic acidosis may be a front-line diagnosis in patients on TPN with lethargy and outlines the need for monitoring thiamine supply in TPN.     

Magnetic resonance imaging and neurological evaluation after treatment with high-dose methotrexate for acute lymphocytic leukaemia in young children

This study evaluates the occurrence of permanent cerebral white matter changes and neurological abnormalities in children treated at a young age for acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Our pilot treatment protocol did not include central nervous system irradiation, but intrathecal methotrexate and high-dose methotrexate infusions followed by very intensive folinic acid rescue. We examined 12 children in complete remission and off therapy 18 months to 9.5 years after their last methotrexate infusion. They were below 5 years of age at diagnosis and therefore expected to be at special risk of neurotoxic sequelae. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging in the 11 cases thus evaluated did not reveal white matter abnormalities or other signal changes as signs of permanent treatment-related sequelae. We did not observe any pathological clinical neurological findings likely due to methotrexate.     

Degradation and clearance of methotrexate in children with osteosarcoma receiving high-dose infusion

Plasma methotrexate (MTX) concentrations were quantitated in 34 patients after 127 high-dose (35–350 mg/kg) infusions with citrovorum factor rescue. Significant linear correlations have been obtained between methotrexate dosage and concentrations in plasma at 6 and 24 hours after the initiation of the therapy. However, similar trends have not been observed when 48- and 72-hour samples were analyzed. Clinical toxicity was not serious when the methotrexate level in plasma was < 4.5 × 10^?6 M at 48 hours after the start of a six-hour infusion in children. A minimal four-hour steady-state methotrexate plasma level can be maintained during a six-hour infusion. Children excrete methotrexate at a faster rate than adults; the half-life of MTX during the first phase of plasma clearance curve is one hour shorter in children. Urinary analyses have indicated that substantial methotrexate is metabolized. The chemical nature of these components has not been identified. Further, the urinary metabolic profiles varied among patients.     

Pharmacokinetics of high-dose recombinant erythropoietin in plasma and brain of neonatal rats

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rEpo) is neuroprotective in neonatal models of brain injury. Pharmacokinetic data regarding the penetration of circulating rEpo into brain tissue is needed to optimize neuroprotective strategies. We sought to determine the pharmacokinetics of rEpo given intraperitoneally or subcutaneously in plasma and brain. We hypothesized that 1) exogenous rEpo would penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), 2) brain and plasma Epo would correlate, and 3) brain injury would enhance rEpo penetration. Two hundred and eighty-four 7-d-old control, sham, or brain-injured rats were treated with i.p. or s.c. rEpo (0, 250, 2500, or 5000 U/kg) and killed at scheduled intervals. Plasma and brain tissue were collected. Epo concentrations were measured by ELISA. Intraperitoneal injection yielded a faster and greater peak concentration of plasma rEpo (Tmax 3 h, Cmax 10,016 +/- 685 mU/mL) than s.c. injection (Tmax 9 h, Cmax 6224 +/- 753 mU/mL). Endogenous brain Epo was below detection even after hypoxia exposure. Systemic rEpo crossed the BBB in a dose-dependent manner, peaked in brain at 10 h, and was increased after brain injury. We conclude that high-dose rEpo is detectable in brain for >20 h after a single systemic injection. These pharmacokinetic data are valuable for planning of rEpo neuroprotection experiments.     

Degradation and clearance of methotrexate in children with osteosarcoma receiving high-dose infusion.

Plasma methotrexate (MTX) concentrations were quantitated in 34 patients after 127 high-dose (35--350 mg/kg) infusions with citrovorum factor rescue. Significant linear correlations have been obtained between methotrexate dosage and concentrations in plasma at 6 and 24 hours after the initiation of the therapy. However, similar trends have not been observed when 48- and 72-hour samples were analyzed. Clinical toxicity was not serious when the methotrexate level in plasma was less than 4.5 X 10(-6) M at 48 hours after the start of a six-hour infusion in children. A minimal four-hour steady-state methotrexate plasma level can be maintained during a six-hour infusion. Children excrete methotrexate at a faster rate than adults; the half-life of MTX during the first phase of plasma clearance curve is one hour shorter in children. Urinary analyses have indicated that substantial methotrexate is metabolized. The chemical nature of these components has not been identified. Further, the urinary metabolic profiles varied among patients.     

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) of the brain following high-dose methotrexate treatment for childhood cancer

BACKGROUND: To avoid the late sequelae associated with cranial radiation therapy in childhood, intermediate- or high-dose intravenous methotrexate (HDMTX) has found increasing application as a means of preventing the development of overt central nervous system disease in childhood acute leukaemia. However, acute and chronic neurotoxicity has been described following HDMTX therapy, and the long-term intellectual outcome in children treated in this way is inadequately documented. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) of the brain is a noninvasive, quantitative way of assessing aspects of cerebral metabolism, which has not previously been applied to the study of children undergoing central nervous system directed therapy. PROCEDURE: To evaluate the potential role of (1)H-MRS in the investigation of related neurotoxicity, 11 children who had received HDMTX (cumulative dose 6-96 g/m(2)) underwent localised (1)H-MRS, magnetic resonance imaging. Neuropsychological assessments were performed on the children who had more than 1 year of follow-up time since last methotrexate treatment. Control (1)H-MRS studies on 11 adult and 6 young volunteers were undertaken. Eight patients had spectra of adequate quality. Comparisons between (1)H-MRS metabolite ratios and normal controls were made. RESULTS: Patients had a low choline/water ratio compared to controls (P < 0.01). No differences between patient and control NAA/water, Cr/water, Naa/Cr, and Cho/Cr ratios were seen. Overall, 3 patients had abnormal white matter changes on MRI. The mean IQ of the patients (104.1) was in the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: It is postulated that choline depletion in the brains of these patients may reflect subclinical disturbances of myelin metabolism as a result of methotrexate therapy and may represent a possible avenue of treatment in patients with clinical chronic methotrexate-related neurotoxicity.     

Asparagine concentration in plasma after 2,500 IU/m(2) PEG-asparaginase i.v. in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Polyethylene glycol conjugated asparaginase (PEG-ASNase) can be substituted in cases of hypersensitivity to native Escherichia coli asparaginase. We measured asparagine (asn) levels in plasma after a single dose of 2,500 IU/m(2) i.v. PEG-ASNase (Oncaspar) in consolidation treatment of ALL and compared those with data from the previous protocol COALL-05-92. This protocol was similar to COALL-06-97, except that children had been given 45,000 IU/m(2) C-ASNase instead of PEG-ASNase. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 2000 and December 2001 seventy-one children (38 boys, 33 girls) with newly diagnosed ALL treated according to the multicenter protocol COALL-06-97 were investigated in this study. Four hundred and seventy-four plasma samples (71 patients) were analysed by ion exchange chromatography after column derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde. For comparison data (350 plasma samples) from 51 patients treated according to the protocol COALL-05-92 were available. The same method for detection of asn in plasma was used. RESULTS: The median asparagine level in plasma after 2,500 IU/m(2) PEG-ASNase i.v. was below the limit of detection for at least 5 weeks in 81 % of the patients. When divided into high risk (HR) and low risk (LR) group, HR patients who had previously received one dose more of C-ASNase showed a markedly shorter depletion than the LR patients compatible with a higher risk of antibody formation and consequent silent inactivation after a higher number of exposures to ASNase. In the previous protocol COALL-05-92 median asn levels in plasma after 45,000 IU/m(2) native C-ASNase i.v. were below the limit of detection for at least 5 weeks in 65 % of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: 2,500 IU/m(2) PEG-ASNase led to an equally long depletion of asn in plasma as did 45,000 IU/m(2) native C-ASNase i.v. used in COALL-05-92.     

Pharmacokinetics of growth hormone-releasing hormone(1–29)-NH2 and stimulation of growth hormone secretion in healthy subjects after intravenous or intranasal administration

The growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue GHRH(1–29)-NH, was administered intravenously or intranasally to 30 healthy men aged 19–43 years. Intravenous injection of the lowest dose tested, 0.25 μg/kg body weight, elicited significant release of growth hormone (GH). Maximal release (mean GH peaks of about 90 mU/1) was obtained with a dose of 1–2 μg/kg. Although GHRH(1–29)-NH₂ was rapidly eliminated after intravenous injection, GH levels were elevated for about 3 hours. Absorption of GHRH(1–29)-NH₂ through the nasal mucosa was found to be low, and the bioavailability was only 3–5%. There was a dose-dependent release of GH after intranasal administration of GHRH(1–29)-NH₂, with the maximal response obtained with about 50 μg/kg; this dose was approximately as potent as 1 μg/kg injected intravenously. The GH response after repeated intranasal administration of GHRH(1–29)-NH₂ was sustained; there was no suppression of GH secretion during the night following a day when GHRH(1–29)-NH₂ had been given three times intranasally. Based on these findings and the obvious convenience of intranasal administration compared with injections, it would be justified to test intranasal therapy for treatment of short stature in children with GH deficiency caused by hypothalamic damage.