Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP) with Melphalan as a Treatment for Unresectable Metastases Confined to the Liver
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Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP) with Melphalan as a Treatment for Unresectable Metastases Confined to the Liver

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Population pharmacokinetics of melphalan in paediatric blood or marrow transplant recipients

Christa E Nath1, Peter J Shaw, Kay Montgomery

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia. christan@chw.edu.au

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|February 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A new population pharmacokinetic model for melphalan in children with cancer was developed. This model, along with a limited sampling strategy, can help optimize melphalan dosing for improved treatment outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Pharmacokinetics

Background:

  • Melphalan is a key chemotherapeutic agent used in treating pediatric malignant diseases.
  • Accurate dosing is crucial for efficacy and minimizing toxicity in pediatric patients.
  • Understanding melphalan pharmacokinetics in children is essential for optimizing treatment regimens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model for melphalan in pediatric cancer patients.
  • To assess the utility of limited sampling strategies (LSS) for melphalan monitoring.
  • To provide a basis for developing safer and more effective melphalan dosing guidelines.

Main Methods:

  • Collected melphalan concentration data from 59 pediatric patients (0.3-18 years) receiving intravenous melphalan.
  • Utilized NONMEM software for population pharmacokinetic modeling.
  • Employed stepwise multiple linear regression to develop a three-sample limited sampling model.

Main Results:

  • A two-compartment PopPK model was developed, incorporating weight, prior carboplatin therapy, and glomerular filtration rate as covariates for clearance, and weight for volume of distribution.
  • The model demonstrated low interpatient variability for clearance (27.3%) and volume of distribution (33.8%).
  • A validated three-sample LSS accurately predicted the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC).

Conclusions:

  • The developed and validated melphalan PopPK model is suitable for clinical application in pediatric oncology.
  • The established limited sampling strategy enables efficient therapeutic drug monitoring.
  • This research supports the development of optimized, individualized melphalan dosing strategies for children with malignant diseases.
Abstract

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