01). The highest Ae(infinity) (1267.7 +/- 65.2 ng) was found in the formulation containing 6% caprylic acid in propylene glycol (PG), which was 5.4- and 2.0-times

higher than the PG only formulation and oral administration, respectively. Compared to oral administration, significantly delayed half-life values were obtained from all the formulated transdermal delivery systems. There was a linear relationship selleck inhibitor (r<SU2</SU = 0.9854) between the drug loading dose and Ae(infinity). The Ae(infinity) values from the transdermal delivery system containing 6% caprylic acid (53.8 mg as alendronate) and an oral product (Fosamax<SU (R)</SU, 70 mg as alendronate) in humans were 127.0 +/- selleck compound 34.2 mu g and 237.2 +/- 56.3 mu g, respectively.

The dose-adjusted relative Ae(infinity) ratio of the transdermal delivery system to oral product was calculated to be 69.7%. The long half-life of alendronate in the transdermal delivery system (50.6 +/- 6.4 h), compared to that of the oral product (3.5 +/- 1.1 h) could allow less-frequent dosing. In conclusion, this study showed that a transdermal delivery system containing 6% caprylic acid in PG could be a favorable alternative for alendronate administration.</.”
“Aims:

The aim of this study was to determine the predictive role of pretreatment carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) measurement and its change after one cycle

of gemcitabine-based therapy for response, time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS).

Methods:

Analyses were derived from three consecutive gemcitabine-containing phase II clinical trials between 1997 and 2004.

Results:

A total of 111 patients with pancreas cancer was studied. Baseline CA19-9 concentrations were dichotomized near the median. Lower baseline CA19-9 levels were positively associated with OS (median 9.1 vs 6.1 months, P = 0.0057) and TTP (median 6.4 vs 4.2 months, Cilengitide Cytoskeletal Signaling inhibitor P = 0.0044).The covariate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for progression among patients with baseline CA19-9 >= 1000 ng/mL was HR = 1.94 (95% CI 1.24-3.02), with P = 0.0035. The covariate adjusted risk of death among patients with baseline CA19-9 >= 1000 ng/ml was similarly elevated: HR = 1.90 (95% CI 1.23-2.94), with P = 0.0039. Change in CA19-9 levels from baseline to the end of treatment cycle 1 did not predict objective response (P = 0.75). There was somewhat longer OS (median 8.7 vs 7.1 months) and TTP (median 7.1 vs 5.4 months) in patients with >= 50% reduction in serum CA19-9 concentrations, but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.74 and 0.81, respectively).

Conclusion:

Baseline CA19-9 levels may predict survival in patients with advanced pancreas cancer. The change in CA19-9 levels determined within 1 month of the initiation of therapy did not predict treatment outcome.