A method for quantification of fludarabine (FDB) and clofarabine (CFB) in human
plasma was developed with an API5000 LC-MS/MS system. FDB and CFB were extracted from EDTA
plasma samples by protein precipitation with trichloroacetic acid. Briefly, 50 µL
plasma sample was mixed with 25 µL internal standard (50 ng/mL aqueous
2-Cl-adensosine) and 25 µL 20% trichloroacetic acid, centrifuged at 25,000
g (20,000 rpm) for 3 min, and then transfered to an autosampler vial. The extracted sample
was injected onto an Eclipse extend C18 column (2.1 × 150 mm, 5
µm) and eluted with 1 mM NH4OH (pH 9.6) - acetonitrile in a gradient
mode. Electrospray ionization in positive mode (ESI+) and multiple reaction
monitoring (MRM) were used, and ion pairs 286/134 for FDB, 304/170 for CFB and 302/134 for
the internal standard were selected for quantification. The retention times were typically
3.72 min for FDB, 4.34 min for the internal standard, 4.79min for CFB. Total run time was
10 min per sample. Calibration range was 0.5–80ng/mL for CFB and
2–800ng/mL for FDB. The method was applied to a clinical pharmacokinetic study in
pediatric patients.