Comparison of Different Techniques for the Determination of Platinized Cytostatic Drugs in Urine Samples

Abstract

Platinum-based cytostatic drugs are one of the most widely used cancer treatments. They are excreted via the urinary tract and can reach the environment through wastewater, posing a risk to human health due to their side effects. Four identification and quantification techniques, including liquid chromatography (LC) separation coupled to (i) a diode array ultraviolet (UV(DAD)) (ii), mass spectrometer in single ion monitoring mode (LC-MS) and (iii) multiple reaction monitoring mode (LC-MS/MS) and (iv) derivatization with diethyldithiocarbamate prior to LC-MS/MS analysis, have been optimized and compared for the multiresidue determination of main platinized cytostatic drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin) in urine samples. Parameters that affect the efficiency of the chromatographic separation and analytical determination of different methods (column, mobile phase, wavelength, precursor ions, fragmentor, and product ions) were optimized. Analytical features, such as matrix effect, sensitivity, precision, selectivity, and linearity, were calculated. In terms of selectivity, the derivatization technique was discarded since it was only applicable to the platinated sum. A high dilution of the sample with LC-UV(DAD) was needed to reduce the matrix effect. Overall, the LC-MS/MS method presented the best analytical features (% RSD ≤ 12.8%, R2 ≥ 0.991, or method-detection limits between 0.01–1 µg mL⁻¹). The selected method was applied to the quantification of platinized cytostatic drugs in hospital urine samples from oncologic patients.