Abstract
BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a novel chemotherapeutic agent, active against a variety of tumors. It is not known whether the drug penetrates brain tumor tissue.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three patients with a recurrent glioma received paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) in a 3-hour i.v. infusion prior to surgery. Paclitaxel concentrations were measured in the tumor tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, cyst fluid, plasma and, in one patient, normal brain tissue.
RESULTS: Tumor tissue concentrations were in the therapeutic range in all three patients. Brain tissue concentration, however, was below the detection limit of the trial.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that paclitaxel may have a place in brain tumor therapy. The low concentration in normal brain tissue, as observed in one patient, may suggest, however, that the drug does not cross the intact bloodbrain barrier.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 951-3 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Annals of Oncology |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 1994 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Blood-Brain Barrier
- Brain Neoplasms/blood
- Brain/metabolism
- Glioma/blood
- Humans
- Male
- Paclitaxel/pharmacokinetics
- Pilot Projects
- Tissue Distribution