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Background: About 26,000 chemotherapeutic batches were produced in 2003 in the Institute Gustave Roussy and 83% were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed in post-production controls via an analytical platform. The rate of non-conformity (outside the specification limits of the target concentration +/-10%) decreased from 8.9% to 2.2% between years 2001 and 2003. A cost- and time-saving acceptance sampling plan was applied to assay fewer batches whilst maintaining an accurate estimate of the quality level., Methods: The opportunity to apply a single sampling plan by attributes with an acceptance quality level of 2.2% was evaluated. A prognostic study using a logistic regression model was performed for some drugs to identify risk factors associated with the non-conformity rate of preparations., Results: Out of 26 drugs, 17 have not been sampled, since they were prepared less than 400 times per year. For six drugs, a reduction of about 50% in the number of assays was estimated. Three drugs were "at risk" of being non-conform: for these drugs, all batches were analysed., Conclusions: The sampling plan allowed a reduction of almost 8000 analyses with respect to the number of batches analysed for 6 drugs. For the 3 drugs with the higher risk to be non-conform, associated risk factors were identified to set up corrective actions.

Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent widely used from cancer chemotherapy to immunotherapy purposes. In paediatrics oncology, oral cyclophosphamide prescribed at low dosages for a long time treatment is currently investigated. This treatment is a putative well tolerated regimen for children treated for a wide variety of recurrent solid tumours. For these purposes, new oral formulations more convenient for children than cyclophosphamide 50mg tablets are needed. Thus, we present a rapid method for the assay of cyclophosphamide in various pharmaceutical preparations using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and derivatization with phosphomolybdic acid. This method is accurate and precise and allows quantitation of cyclophosphamide in aqueous solutions from 400 to 1200 microg/mL. It is suitable for quantitation and stability studies of cyclophosphamide in pharmaceutical products, i.e. capsules and infusion bags prepared in a hospital pharmacy. According to pharmaceutical guidelines, we demonstrated that low dose cyclophosphamide capsules, extemporaneously prepared for children, are stable at least for 70 days.