Occurrence of circulating 7-deoxyaglycone metabolites of 4?-deoxydoxorubicin in man

Abstract
In five cancer patients we have determined the pharmacokinetics of 4′-deoxydoxorubicin (4′-DOX), its alcoholic metabolite 4′-deoxydoxorubicinol and the occurrence of circulating 7-deoxyaglycone metabolites. The 7-deoxyaglycone of the alcohol metabolite, the major aglycone of Adriamycin (ADR) present in man, was not detected in any serum sample. The 7-deoxyaglycone of the parent drug, which appears in concentrations in excess of 30ng/ml after ADR administration, was detected in only 2/5 patients in trace amounts. These preliminary data indicate a difference in biotransformation between ADR and 4′-DOX despite their close structural similarities.