A phase I pharmacokinetic and safety evaluation of oral pazopanib dosing administered as crushed tablet or oral suspension in patients with advanced solid tumors
Because cancer patients may have difficulty swallowing whole tablets, crushing tablets or ingesting an oral suspension is a practical alternative. This open-label, 2-part, randomized crossover, phase I study evaluated the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of pazopanib administered as a crushed tablet or an oral suspension relative to whole tablet in patients with advanced cancer (Part 1). Patients completing Part 1 were eligible for continuous daily pazopanib 800 mg (Part 2). Administration of a single pazopanib 400 mg crushed tablet increased the area under the curve from 0 to 72 h (AUC(0–72); 46%) and maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax; ~2-fold), and decreased time to achieve maximum plasma concentration (Tmax; ~2 h), indicating increased rate and extent of oral absorption relative to whole-tablet administration. Similarly, a single dose of pazopanib 400 mg suspension increased AUC(0–72) (33%) and Cmax (29%), and decreased Tmax (1 h). These changes in pharmacokinetic parameters were not associated with increases in the magnitude or duration of short-term (ie, up to 72 h) blood pressure elevation compared with whole-tablet administration.