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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model
Published on: June 18, 2013
Substantial variation in transplacental transfer of chemotherapeutic agents in a mouse model
Kristel Van Calsteren1, Rene Verbesselt, Rieta Van Bree
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division Gynecologic Oncology and Experimental Laboratory of Gynecology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Objective:
Data on the transplacental transfer of chemotherapeutic agents are lacking. We aimed to measure the maternofetal transfer of cytotoxic drugs in a mouse model.
Study Design:
The transplacental transfer of doxorubicin (9 mg/kg), epirubicin (11 mg/kg), vinblastine (6 mg/kg), carboplatin (50 mg/kg), paclitaxel (10 mg/kg), and cytarabine (100 mg/kg) was tested in a C57/Bl6J mouse model. Ninety minutes after intravenous (IV) drug injection on gestational day 18.5, maternal and fetal blood were collected simultaneously. Plasma drug levels were determined using high performance liquid chromatography or atomic absorption spectrometry.
Results:
Fetal plasma concentrations of doxorubicin, epirubicin, vinblastine, and cytarabine were 5.1% ± 0.6% (n = 8), 4.8% ± 3.8% (n = 8), 13.8% ± 5.8% (n = 6), and 56.7% ± 22.6% (n = 6) of the maternal concentrations, respectively. Total platinum passed the mouse placenta easily (117.0% ± 38.9%, n = 6). Paclitaxel could not be detected in fetal plasma samples (n = 6).
Conclusions:
Substantial variations in transplacental transfer were noted among the tested drugs. Current findings contribute to the understanding of reported pregnancy outcomes in humans.
