Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of mitomycin C in human serum

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method is presented by which the cancer chemotherapeutic agent, mitomycin C, may be measured in human serum. A mobile phase of methanol:water (35:65) passed through a mu-Bondapak C-18 column at a rate of 1.0 ml/min produced a sharp, symmetrical band for mitomycin C. An improved serum extraction procedure, using a reversed-phase sample preparation cartridge, proved to be efficient and reproducible. Recovery over a concentration range of 10-100 ng/ml was 81.6% with a between-day coefficient of variation of 4.6% (n = 5). The within-day coefficient of variation at 50 ng/ml was 5.6% (n = 10). Ultraviolet detection at a wavelength of 365 nm was sensitive to serum concentrations of 10 ng/ml. Serum concentration-time course data from lung cancer patients receiving mitomycin C by rapid intravenous injection are presented.