Pharmacokinetics of estramustine phosphate (Estracyt) in prostatic cancer patients

The pharmacokinetics of estramustine phosphate (EMP) was studied in five prostatic cancer patients given single i.v. and oral doses of EMP in a cross-over study. Plasma and urinary concentrations of parent drug, estramustine, estromustine (the estrone analogue), estradiol and estrone were followed by 32 h. The elimination of intravenous EMP from plasma was biphasic. The mean volumes of distribution were small, being 43 and 108 ml/kg for the central and peripheral compartments, respectively. The plasma clearance was 64 ml/kg/h, and the half-lives of the two phases were 0.16 and 1.27 h. Metabolism was the major route of elimination of EMP. It was readily dephosphorylated and oxidized to yield the cytotoxic metabolites estramustine and estromustine. Estromustine was the main metabolite in plasma. When given orally EMP underwent extensive presystemic dephosphorylation, which started in the gastrointestinal tract. The relative bioavailability of estromustine after administration of EMP-capsules was 44%, which reflects incomplete absorption of EMP rather than first-pass metabolism of estromustine. The terminal half-life of estromustine was 10-20 h, which suggests that EMP might be given once or twice a day.