Quantitative bioanalytical assay for the selective RET inhibitors selpercatinib and pralsetinib in mouse plasma and tissue homogenates using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Selpercatinib and pralsetinib are potent and selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the rearranged during transfection (RET) receptor in various types of cancer. In this study, a bioanalytical assay was developed and fully validated for selpercatinib and pralsetinib in mouse plasma and partially in eight mouse tissue homogenates using liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry. Samples were pre-treated by protein precipitation with acetonitrile using erlotinib as internal standard. Separation of the analytes was performed on an ethylene bridged octadecyl silica C18 column by gradient elution using ammonium hydroxide (in water) and methanol. Analytes were detected by positive electrospray ionization in selected reaction monitoring mode. A linear concentration range of 2–2000 ng/ml was used for the validation of the assay for both inhibitors. The precision values (within–day and between–day) ranged between 3.4 and 10.2% for selpercatinib and 3.1–14.6% for pralsetinib in all matrices. Furthermore, data obtained for accuracy were between 91.7 and 109.3% and 85.1–114.1% for selpercatinib and pralsetinib, respectively. No significant matrix effects or extraction losses were observed and both analytes were stable under all investigated conditions. Finally, a pilot study for selpercatinib in mice was conducted employing this method, followed by a successful incurred sample reanalysis.