A rapid, simple and reliable HPLC-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer method for a simultaneous quantification of irinotecan and its active metabolite 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38) in mouse plasma

UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of ultra-traces of irinotecan and its metabolites in red blood cells and plasma to detect caregivers' contamination

The occupational exposure of caregivers to antineoplastic agents has been demonstrated since 1979. Since the early 1990s, numerous studies from several countries have demonstrated the contamination of care facilities by antineoplastic drugs. As it is easier to sample, most contamination measurements in workers are carried out in urine sample. The distribution and elimination half-lives of irinotecan suggest that blood can be considered as better than urine for the biomonitoring of a potential contamination of healthcare workers. We describe here the development and the validation of a UHPLC-MS/MS method to simultaneously quantify irinotecan, and two of its main metabolites, APC and SN-38, at ultra-trace levels in plasma and red blood cells (RBC). This method has been applied to blood samples collected from several healthcare services in a French comprehensive cancer center. The results demonstrate that the method is sensitive enough to identify a contamination of healthcare workers by irinotecan and SN-38 at very low concentrations. Moreover, the results show that analysis of RBC is of great interest and complementary to that of serum.

Identification of the bioactive components of Banxia Xiexin Decoction that protect against CPT-11-induced intestinal toxicity via UPLC-based spectrum-effect relationship analyses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a valuable chemotherapeutic compound, but its use is associated with severe diarrhea in some patients. The CPT-11 prodrug is converted into the active 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38) metabolite, which can then be retained for extended periods in the intestine, leading to the onset of diarrhea and related symptoms. Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) is commonly employed for the treatment of gastroenteritis in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and in clinical settings, it is used to prevent diarrhea in patients undergoing CPT-11 treatment. To date, however, there have been no studies specifically examining which components of BXD can alleviate the gastrointestinal symptoms associated with CPT-11 administration.

AIM

This study aimed to identify the main herbal components of BXD associated with protection against CPT-11-induced intestinal toxicity in a murine model system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SN-38 levels were measured by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS in samples collected from mice subjected to CPT-11-induced diarrhea that had been administered BXD or different components thereof. Pearson correlation and Grey relational analyses were then used to explore spectrum-effect relationships between reductions in intestinal SN-38 levels and specific chemical fingerprints in samples from mice administered particular combinations of BXD component herbs.

RESULTS

We found that different herbal combinations were associated with significant differences in intestinal SN-38 reductions in treated mice. Our spectrum-effect analysis revealed that BXD components including chrysin 6-C-arabinoside-8-C-glucoside, coptisine, hydroxyl oroxylin A 7-O-glucuronide (hydroxyl wogonoside), baicalin, an isomer of 5,6,7-trihydroxyl-flavanone-7-O-glucuronide, berberine, palmatine, and chrysin-7-O-glucuronide were all directly linked with reductions in intestinal SN-38 levels. We therefore speculate that these compounds are the primary bioactive components of BXD, suggesting that they offer protection against CPT-11-induced diarrhea.

CONCLUSION

By utilizing UPLC to analyze SN-38 levels in mice treated with a variety of herbal combinations, we were able to effectively explore BXD spectrum-effect relationships and to thereby establish the components of this medicinal preparation that were bioactive and capable of preventing CPT-11-induced diarrhea in mice. This and similar spectrum-effect studies represent a robust means of exploring the mechanistic basis for the pharmacological activity of TCM preparations.

Voltammetric responses at modified electrodes and aggregation effects of two anticancer molecules: irinotecan and sunitinib

Voltammetric analyses of two anticancer molecules at modified electrodes and influence of aggregate formation on their differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) responses.

Simultaneous quantification of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride in rat plasma by using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector

In this manuscript we aimed at the simultaneous separation and quantification of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride (injected both as single components and in combination) from Sprague Dawley rat plasma by using a validated method obtained through the use of a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detector (DAD). Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride were detected and quantified using a Zorbax Extend C-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm; 5 μm particle size) in gradient elution mode. The chromatographic analyses were carried out in 15 min. The analytical mode was calibrated and validated in the concentration range from 0.1 to 18 μg/mL both for Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride. Sprague Dawley rat plasma was used to perform the analysis. 3-methylxanthine was the internal standard. The weighted-matrix matched standard curves of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride showed a good linearity up to 18 μg/mL. Parallelism tests were also performed to evaluate whether the over-range samples could be analyzed after dilution without affecting the analytical performance. The intra- and inter-day precision (RSD%) values of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride were ≤7.14% and ≤11.5%, respectively. The intra- and inter-day trueness (Bias%) values were in the range from -11.5% to 1.70% for both drugs. The analytical mode performance was further tested after collecting Sprague Dawley rat plasma following a single-dose administration of chemotherapeutics or their association. The validated HPLC-DAD method allowed the simultaneous quantification of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride in the rat plasma, besides the evaluation of the pharmacokinetic parameters and drug delivery.

Development and validation of an UPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38 glucuronide in plasma, urine, feces, liver and kidney: Application to a pharmacokinetic study of irinotecan in rats

The objective of this research is to develop and validate a sensitive and reproducible UPLC-MS/MS method to quantify irinotecan, its active metabolite SN-38 and SN-38 glucuronide (phase II metabolite of SN-38) simultaneously in different bio-matrices (plasma, urine, feces), tissues (liver and kidney) and to use the method to investigate its pharmacokinetic behavior in rats. Irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38 glucuronide has been resolved and separated by C18 column using acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water used as the mobile phases. Triple quadruple mass spectrometer using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) with positive scan mode were employed to perform mass analysis. The results showed that the linear response range of irinotecan and SN-38 in plasma, feces, liver and kidney is 4.88-10000 nM, 39-5000 nM, 48.8-6250 nM and 48.8-6250 nM, respectively (R(2)>0.99). In case of SN-38 glucuronide, the standard curves were linear in the concentration range of 6.25-2000 nM, 4.88-1250 nM, 9.8-1250 nM and 9.8-1250 nM in plasma, feces, liver and kidney homogenates, respectively. The lower limit of detection (LLOD) of irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38 glucuronide was determined to be less than 25 nM in all bio-matrices as well as tissue homogenates. Recoveries of irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38 glucuronide at three different concentrations (low, medium and high) were not less than 85% at three different concentrations in plasma and feces. The percentage matrix factors in different bio-matrices and tissues were within 20%. The UPLC-MS/MS method was validated with intra-day and inter-day precision of less than 15% in plasma, feces, liver and kidney. Owing to the high sensitivity of this method, only 20 μl of plasma, urine and homogenates of liver, kidney and feces is needed. The validated method has been successfully employed for pharmacokinetic evaluation of irinotecan in male wistar rats to quantify irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38 glucuronide in plasma, feces, and urine samples.