ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Drug monitoring is a useful tool for obtaining detailed information about the disposition of a drug in an individual patient during chemotherapy. According to the international guidelines, the analytical assay for quantification of a compound in biological samples must be validated. Among a number of parameters, peak purity is an important requirement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed pharmacokinetics in patients who received chemotherapy with capecitabine and up to 10 various co-medications. RESULTS: Out of seven investigated co-administered drugs, we found evidence that the proton pump inhibitor pantoprazole causes peak interferences with capecitabine during high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Therefore quantification of capecitabine in plasma samples can be inaccurate. CONCLUSION: We recommend an altered time schedule for co-administered drugs or changing the mobile phase used in the assay.
