URINARY-EXCRETION OF AMINOHYDROXYPROPYLIDENE BISPHOSPHONATE IN CANCER-PATIENTS AFTER SINGLE INTRAVENOUS INFUSIONS

The effect of the rate of infusion of disodium aminohydroxy-propylidene bisphosphonate (APD; CGP 23339A), an inhibitor of bone resorption, on urinary excretion of this agent was studied in a randomized open-label study in 20 cancer patients. Ten patients received 60 mg of APD over 4 h, and the remaining 10 patients received the same dose over 24 h. Urine collected during specified intervals for 72 h after the start of the infusion was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography for unchanged APD. Mild and transient adverse experiences were observed in 12 (60%) patients; the most common were headache, fever, and phlebitis at the infusion site. No clinically significant laboratory abnormalities were observed, and none of the experiences were serious enough to require discontinuation of treatment. Cumulative urinary excretion of APD was a linear function of time, increasing rapidly after both the 4- and 24-h infusions were started. The mean (+/- standard deviation) cumulative urinary excretion of APD was 51.1 +/- 13.0% of the dose in the 20 patients, 55.0 +/- 15.0% in the 10 patients given the 4-h infusion, and 47.2 +/- 9.9% in the 10 patients receiving the 24-h infusion. Thus, the rate of infusion of the 60-mg dose did not influence retention of APD at 72 h after the start of therapy. Similarly, the presence or absence of bone metastases did not influence cumulative urinary excretion or the retention of APD.