Purpose: Inhibition of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 by nilotinib was examined in vitro with SN-38 as a substrate, to estimate the possibility of drug-drug interaction of nilotinib with other medicines predominantly detoxified by UGT1A1.
Methods: Inhibition of UGT1A1-catalyzed SN-38 glucuronidation by nilotinib was examined with human liver microsomes (HLM) and recombinant human UGT1A1 as enzyme sources. Inhibition constants (K(i)) were estimated with kinetic analysis.
Results: Nilotinib potently inhibited the SN-38 glucuronidation by human liver microsomal UGT1A1 and recombinant UGT1A1 in a noncompetitive manner, with K(i) values of 0.286 ± 0.0094 and 0.079 ± 0.0029 μM, respectively. If a drug that serves as a substrate of UGT1A1 is administered with nilotinib, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of a drug estimated by using these K(i) values would be two times or higher than that without nilotinib, suggesting drug-drug interactions involving UGT1A1. These in vitro data and the prediction of drug-drug interaction are helpful for the clinical management of the nilotinib use.
Conclusion: We found that nilotinib is a potent noncompetitive inhibitor of human UGT1A1 activity.