Novel method for fast trabectedin quantification using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for human pharmacokinetic studies.

Few time-consuming bioanalytical methods are currently available for trabectedin quantification in clinical investigations. Here we present a novel, fast and sensitive method for trabectedin determination in human plasma based on hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS). Plasma samples are treated with acetonitrile-0.1 % formic acid and the solvent extract is directly injected into an Acquity BEH Amide column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 µm) operating in HILIC mode at 0.2 mL/min with 80:20 acetonitrile-0.1 % formic acid in water. The analyte is separated by an organic solvent gradient and quantified by an Agilent Ultivo triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The quantitative MRM transitions were m/z 762→234 and m/z 765→234 for trabectedin and its d3-labeled derivative, respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.01 ng/mL and the assay was linear up to 2.5 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day relative error ranged from 1.19 % to 8.52 %, while the relative standard deviation was less than 12.35 %. The method was used to determine the pharmacokinetic profiles of trabectedin in 26 patients with soft tissue sarcoma, showing that this new HILIC-MS/MS method is suitable for use in clinical research.

Hepatic safety analysis of trabectedin: results of a pharmacokinetic study with trabectedin in patients with hepatic impairment and experience from a phase 3 clinical trial.

Purpose Trabectedin is metabolized by the liver and has been associated with transient, noncumulative transaminase elevation. Two recent studies further characterize hepatic tolerability with trabectedin therapy: a phase 1 pharmacokinetic study (Study #1004; NCT01273493) in patients with advanced malignancies and hepatic impairment (HI), and a phase 3 study (Study #3007; NCT01343277) of trabectedin vs. dacarbazine in patients with advanced sarcomas and normal hepatic function. Methods In Study #1004, patients received a single 3-h intravenous (IV) infusion of trabectedin: control group, trabectedin 1.3 mg/m2; HI group (baseline total bilirubin >1.5 and ≤3× upper limit of normal [ULN]; AST and ALT ≤2.5× ULN), trabectedin 0.58 or 0.9 mg/m2. In Study #3007, the trabectedin group received 1.5 mg/m2 by 24-h IV infusion every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results In Study #1004, dose-normalized trabectedin exposure was higher in HI patients (n = 6) versus controls (n = 9) (geometric mean ratios [90% CI] AUClast: 1.97 [1.20; 3.22]). In Study #3007, following trabectedin administration, 90% of patients had elevated ALT (32% grade 3-4) and 84% had elevated AST (17% grade 3-4). Transaminase elevations were transient and noncumulative. Progression-free survival was similar in patients with grade 3-4 hepatotoxicity (n = 109) versus grade 0-2 hepatotoxicity (n = 231) (median [95% CI]: 4.63 [4.01, 5.85] months versus 3.55 [2.73, 4.63] months; P = 0.545, HR = 0.91 [0.68-1.23]). Conclusion Trabectedin treatment of patients with HI results in higher plasma exposures. Hepatotoxicity in patients with normal liver function can be effectively addressed through dose reductions and delays.