Simultaneous determination of Z-3-[(2,4-dimethylpyrrol-5-yl)methylidenyl]-2-indolinone (SU5416) and its interconvertible geometric isomer (SU5886) in rat plasma by LC/MS/MS

Z-3-[(2,4-Dimethylpyrrol-5-yl)methylidenyl]-2-indolinone (SU5416) is a cytostatic substance in development as an anti-angiogenic agent. SU5416 exists as the thermodynamically stable cis or Z-isomer as a solid. Studies have shown that in light exposed solutions of SU5416, the unstable trans or E-isomer, namely SU5886, is formed. The E-isomer converts back to the Z-isomer when protected from light. The E-isomer is unstable for synthesis and isolation; therefore, the analytical standard of the E-isomer is not available. In this study, a simple, fast and reliable LC/MS/MS method has been developed to determinate both isomers simultaneously in rat plasma samples to support the study of disposition kinetics of SU5416. This method is sensitive (limit of quantitation (LOQ = 0.5 ng/mL)), reproducible and has a wide linear range (0.5-2500 ng/mL). There was no conversion between E- and Z-isomer during sample preparation procedure and sample determination with LC/MS/MS. Experimental results proved that SU5416 and SU5886 have identical detection response. Therefore, SU5416 (Z-isomer) was used successfully as analytical standard for SU5886 (E-isomer). This method has been applied to rat plasma samples obtained from a pharmacokinetic study. This study underscores the use of LC/MS/MS technique for bioanalytical methods where analytical standards are not available and analytes are interconvertible.