Pharmacokinetics of epirubicin in man. Non-influence of alpha interferon.

The influence of alpha interferon on the plasma pharmacokinetics of epirubicin has been studied in five patients with bronchial cancer. The pharmacokinetic studies of epirubicin (100 mg m-2) were performed prior to and immediately after a 3 wk period with daily natural alpha interferon treatment (6 x 10(6) IU i.m.). None of the patients had been treated with antracyclines or interferon prior to entering the present study. The plasma pharmacokinetics of epirubicin were most adequately described by a three compartment open model both prior to and after the interferon treatment. The interferon treatment had no influence on the pharmacokinetics of epirubicin (AUC, Cmax, terminal half life).