Clinical kinetics of 1,4-dihydroxy-5,8-bis [[2- [(2-hydroxyethyl)amino ]ethyl] amino]-9,10-anthracenedione

Abstract
The clinical kinetics of 1,4-dihydroxy-5,8-bis[[2-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]ethyl]amino]-9,10-anthracenedione dihydrochloride (DHAQ) are reported. DHAQ, 1-3 mg/m2, was administered as an i.v. bolus to 6 patients with metastatic cancer. Plasma clearance of the drug followed a biphasic pattern with a harmonic mean initial half-life (t1/2) of 13.7 min and a terminal t1/2, of 37.4 h. Recovery of unchanged drug in the urine was 6.8% at 24 h and 7.3% at 72 h; the corresponding recovery of total radioactivity was 9.4% and 11.3%. Apparent volume of distribution of DHAO was .apprx. 13.8 .+-. 2.9 l/kg. Total clearance was 238.7 ml/kg per h, twice the creatinine clearance.