Hydrolysis and protein binding of melphalan.

Melphalan (30 microgram/ml) is completely hydrolyzed in water at 37 degrees after 8 hr. At lower temperatures, hydrolysis proceeds at slower rates. The presence of bovine serum albumin retards hydrolysis of melphalan (30 microgram/ml) in water. The melphalan hydrolysis rate is directely releated to the bovine serum albumin concentration. At 37 degrees, 8 g of bovine serum albumin/100 ml of water gives a recovery rate of melphalan similar to that of human plasma. In vitro alkylation of melphalan at 37 degrees with human plasma containing 30 microgram/ml, calculated by equilibrium dialysis, methanol extraction, and high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis, is 30% after 8 hr.