Plasma Concentration Monitoring of Busulfan

High dosage busulfan (1 mg/kg orally every 6 hours × 16 doses) is frequently used in preparative regimens for haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Busulfan is well absorbed after oral administration, exhibits low protein binding and is metabolised through conjugation with glutathione to form a thiophenium ion. At a given dose, there is considerable variability in the systemic exposure of busulfan, typically expressed as area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) or average concentration at steady state (C_ss). Relative to that in adolescents and adults, patients less than 4 years of age have an increased apparent oral clearance (CL/F) of busulfan and a higher conjugation rate of busulfan with glutathione in the enterocyte.

Several investigators have identified relationships between busulfan C_ss and outcome in patients undergoing HSCT. Busulfan concentration-response relationships are regimen-, age- and disease-dependent. The busulfan/cyclophosphamide (BU/CY) regimen is the only regimen for which substantial concentration-outcome data exist. Generally, the risk of hepatic veno-occlusive disease is increased with busulfan C_ss > 900 µg/L.

The impact of busulfan C_ss on veno-occlusive disease may be influenced by the age of the patient and the dose of cyclophosphamide. Lower rates of relapse in chronic myelogenous leukaemia occur in patients with a busulfan C_ss > 917 µg/L without an increased risk of toxicity. Busulfan C_ss is also related to the engraftment rate in children, and escalating busulfan doses to achieve a target C_ss > 600 µg/L improves graft retention.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of busulfan should be performed to maximise the likelihood of engraftment and minimise the risk of toxicity and relapse in HSCT patients receiving the BU/CY preparative regimen.