Clinical pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide in combination with N-acetylcysteine

The pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide were studied in 20 patients with soft tissue and bone sarcomas. Drug was administered as a 30–60 min i.v. infusion at 1.2 or 2.0 mg/m/day for five consecutive days. Some patients also received 1.5 g/m of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administered 3 times per day during the course of therapy. NAC had no effect on ifosfamide pharmacokinetics. There were significant differences in plasma half-life, area under the concentration–time curve and plasma clearance on day 1 versus day 5 of ifosfamide administration. Myelosuppression and granulocytopenia correlated better with day 1 versus day 5 ifosfamide pharmacokinetics suggesting that the alteration of ifosfamide pharmacology with multiple dosing has a significant effect on drug activity.