Method validation for quantification of five antineoplastic agents in urine using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Antineoplastic agents are hazardous, posing occupational risks in hospitals.
• Increased at-home cancer treatment necessitates monitoring for patient and cohabitant exposure.
• Existing monitoring methods are insufficient for high-risk compounds in home environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate sensitive methods for quantifying specific antineoplastic agents in urine.
• To address the need for exposure assessment in home-based cancer treatment settings.

Main Methods:

• Developed two validated methods for quantifying five high-risk antineoplastic agents (cyclophosphamide, etoposide, mitomycin C, imatinib, alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine) in urine.
• Utilized liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction for sample preparation.
• Employed ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) for analysis.

Main Results:

• Methods were validated for selectivity, efficiency, linearity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy.
• Established lower limits of quantification ranging from 0.1 ng/mL to 10 ng/mL for the target agents.
• Validated methods are ready for practical application in assessing occupational and home exposure.

Conclusions:

• The developed urine-based analytical methods are highly sensitive and validated for quantifying key antineoplastic agents.
• These methods are essential for monitoring exposure risks associated with at-home cancer therapy.
• Implementation of these methods can enhance safety for patients and their cohabitants in non-clinical settings.