1. ABSTRACT
2. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze potential differences in antitumor efficacy and pharmacokinetics between intravenous (IV) bendamustine (BEN) and a novel orally administered bendamustine agent (PO) that is utilizing the beneficial properties of superstaturated solid dispersions formulated in nanoparticles. Methods: Pharmacokinetics of IV versus PO BEN were determined by analysis of plasma samples collected from NSG mice treated with either IV or PO BEN. Plasma samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) following a liquid-liquid extraction to determine peak BEN concentration (Cmax), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and the half-life (t1/2) in-vivo. In-vitro cytotoxicity of BEN against human non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s Lymphoma (Raji), multiple myeloma (MM.1s), and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (RS4;11) cell lines was determined over time using MTS assays. Luciferase-tagged versions of the aforementioned cell lines were used to determine in-vivo BEN cytotoxicity of IV versus PO BEN at two different doses.
3. Results: Bendamustine at a high dose in-vitro causes cell death. There was no significant difference in antitumor efficacy between IV and novel PO BEN at a physiologically relevant concentration in all three xenograft models. In-vivo pharmacokinetics showed the oral bioavailability of BEN in mice to be 51.4%. Conclusions: The novel oral BEN agent tested exhibits good oral bioavailability and systemic exposure for in-vivo antitumor efficacy comparable to IV BEN. An oral BEN formulation offers exciting clinical potential as an additional method of administration for bendamustine and warrants further evaluation in clinical studies.
4. INTRODUCTION
5. Bendamustine (BEN) is an intravenously (IV) administered chemotherapeutic agent used primarily against hematologic malignancies. Early testing examined the use of BEN in the context of multiple myeloma as well as breast and small cell lung cancers [1–5]. Later, BEN was found to have activity against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) [2,6–8]. Market availability of the drug began in Germany in the 1970s under the name Cytostasan®, and later was re-marketed as Ribomustin® [2,3]. Today, BEN is sold in the United States under the brand names Belrapzo®, Bendeka®, and Treanda®, and is approved for the treatment of CLL and NHL [9].