Degradation of doxorubicin and daunorubicin in human and rabbit biological fluids.

The stability of doxorubicin (DOX) and daunorubicin (DNR) in rabbit and human plasma, bile and urine and in rabbit faeces was studied in the presence or absence of light, and at body, room and cold room temperatures. Fluorescence was determined by spectrofluorimetry after normal and reversed phase HPLC. Under each set of conditions, DOX and DNR fluorescence decreased with time; the decrease was more rapid with DOX. As the parent drugs were degraded, apolar compounds were formed which behaved like 7-deoxyaglycones and generally did not compensate for the loss in fluorescence of the parent drug. The degradation of anthracyclines occurred even in the absence of light, was not due to bacterial contamination and was faster at higher pH or temperature. The rapid degradation of DOX and DNR in biological fluids at body temperature may have implications on the disposition of anthracyclines in vivo. Prior to analysis, biological fluids and solutions containing anthracyclines should be processed quickly at 4 degrees C, in the absence of light, and at a pH no greater than 6 to avoid degradation.