Abstract
VELCADE (bortezomib, PS-341), reversibly inhibits the 20S proteasome and exhibits cytotoxic and antitumor activities. Pretreatment of cancer cells with bortezomib increases the chemosensitivity of these cells, suggesting that bortezomib may be used in combination chemotherapy. The relative contributions of the five major human cytochromes P450 (P450s), 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 (the focus of the present study), to the metabolism of bortezomib are an important aspect of potential drug interactions. Relative activity factor (RAF), chemical inhibition, and immunoinhibition using monoclonal antibodies were three approaches employed to determine the relative contributions of the major human P450s to the net hepatic metabolism of bortezomib. RAFs for the P450 isoform-selective substrates were determined; the ratio of the rate of metabolism of bortezomib with cDNA-expressed P450s versus rate of metabolism with human liver microsomes was normalized with respect to the RAF for each P450 isoform to determine the percentage contributions of the P450s to the net hepatic metabolism of bortezomib. CYP3A4 followed by CYP2C19 were determined to be the major contributors to the metabolism of bortezomib. Chemical inhibition and immunoinhibition confirmed that CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 were the major P450s responsible for the hepatic metabolism of bortezomib. The studies were conducted with 2 μM bortezomib, and the disappearance of bortezomib, rather than appearance of a specific metabolite, was quantified to determine the contributions of the P450s to the overall hepatic metabolism of bortezomib in humans.
Boronic acids as protease inhibitors were first synthesized in the early 1970s and were demonstrated to act as potent transition state analogs of serine proteases (Koehler and Leinhard, 1971; Philipp and Bender, 1971; Kettner and Shenvi, 1984). Throughout the 1980s, peptide boronic acids were shown to be effective inhibitors of trypsin, chymotrypsin, α-lytic protease, pancreatic elastase, leukocyte elastase, thrombin, and β-lactamases (Kettner and Shenvi, 1984; Crompton et al., 1988) and have been explored for use as therapeutic agents in various disease states (Snow and Bachovchin, 1995; Groziak, 2001). More recently, peptidyl boronic acids were demonstrated as potent proteasome inhibitors, and antitumor and anti-inflammatory efficacy was observed both in vitro and in animal models (Adams et al., 1998). The approval of VELCADE (bortezomib, PS-341; Fig. 1), a dipeptidyl boronic acid, by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2003 for the treatment of relapsed refractory multiple myeloma made it the first boronic acid and the first in a new class of drugs, proteasome inhibitors, to be marketed as a therapeutic agent.
Bortezomib, an N-pyrazinylcarbonylated derivative of the dipeptide boronic acid Phe-Leu-B(OH)2, is a potent, selective, and reversible inhibitor (Ki ∼ 0.62 nM) of the 26S proteasome in mammalian cells (Adams et al., 1998). The molecular mechanisms by which bortezomib exerts its effects include inhibition of proteolysis of inhibitor κB, which in turn leads to inhibition of nuclear factor κB activation and subsequently increases the susceptibility of cells to apoptosis. Studies have shown that pretreatment of cancer cells with bortezomib effectively blocks activation of nuclear factor κB induced by the chemotherapeutic agent CPT-11/SN-38, suggesting that proteasome inhibition may help overcome chemoresistance (Cusack et al., 2001; Hideshima et al., 2001).
The mechanisms of metabolism and the drug-drug interaction potential of boron-containing drugs have not been explored previously. The contribution of the cytochromes P450 (P450), the major drug-metabolizing enzymes in humans, to the hepatic degradation of bortezomib has only been studied recently (Daniels et al., 2003; LaButti et al., 2003; Uttamsingh et al., 2003). Several P450-mediated circulating metabolites of bortezomib have been identified in patients who received a single intravenous dose of bortezomib (Pekol et al., 2005). Knowledge of the metabolism of bortezomib will aid in designing more effective second-generation anticancer agents, as well as help discover and develop boron-containing drugs for other disease states. The study herein discusses the determination of the percentage contribution of the five major human P450s, 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4, to the hepatic rate of metabolism of bortezomib. This information is also important from the view of drug-drug interactions, especially since anticancer agents tend to have narrow therapeutic indices and are commonly coadministered to patients with numerous medications. Bortezomib has shown to enhance the chemosensitivity of cancer cells and may be used as an adjuvant to chemotherapy in the future. Three distinct methods, relative activity factor (RAF) (Crespi, 1995; Venkatakrishnan et al., 2001b), chemical inhibition using P450-selective chemical inhibitors, and immunoinhibition using inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (Gelboin et al., 1999), were employed to evaluate the relative contribution of the major human P450s to the net hepatic metabolism of bortezomib. The RAFs as a ratio of clearance (RAFCL) were determined by measuring the kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) for the P450 isoform-selective substrates using cDNA-expressed P450s and human liver microsomes (HLM). The ratios of the rate of metabolism of bortezomib with the cDNA-expressed P450s and HLM were normalized with respect to the RAFs calculated for the P450 isoforms to determine the percentage contribution of each P450 to the net hepatic metabolism of bortezomib. Results obtained from the RAFCL studies were confirmed by measuring the percentage inhibition of P450-dependent metabolism of bortezomib in HLM using known chemical inhibitors of the P450 isoforms and P450-specific inhibitory monoclonal antibodies.
Materials and Methods
Human liver microsomes (pool of 50 individuals) were purchased from XenoTech LLC (Lenexa, KS). cDNA-expressed CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, insect control Supersomes, 4-OH-tolbutamide, 4-OH-mephenytion, dextrorphan, 1′-OH-midazolam were purchased from BD Gentest (Woburn, MA). Phenacetin, acetaminophen, tolbutamide, dextromethorphan, testosterone, 6β-OH-testosterone, furafylline, sulfaphenazole, omeprazole, quinidine, ketoconazole, NADPH, and MgCl2 were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO). S-Mephenytoin was purchased from BIOMOL Research Laboratories (Plymouth Meeting, PA). Bortezomib was synthesized at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ascites fluid containing monoclonal antibodies to CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and hen egg white lysozyme (HyHel-9) were a gift from Dr. H. V. Gelboin (the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD).
Contribution of P450s 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 to the Net Hepatic Rate of Metabolism of Bortezomib Using the RAFCL Approach (RAF as a Ratio of Clearance)
Determination ofKm andVmax. Kinetic parameters including Km and Vmax for the CYP1A2-catalyzed phenacetin O-dethylation, CYP2C9-catalyzed tolbutamide hydroxylation, CYP2C19-catalyzed S-mephenytoin hydroxylation, CYP2D6-catalyzed dextromethorphan O-demethylation, and CYP3A4-catalyzed testosterone 6β-hydroxylation were determined with HLM and Supersomes. Stock solutions of phenacetin, tolbutamide, S-mephenytoin, dextromethorphan, and testosterone were prepared in acetonitrile. Dilutions of the substrate stock solutions, HLM, and supersomes to obtain 4× solutions were prepared in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Reaction mixtures contained 0.5 mg/ml total protein (incubations with Supersomes contained 10 pmol/ml of each P450), substrates, 2 mM NADPH, and 3 mM MgCl2 in a final volume of 100 μl. Incubations were performed in 96-well polypropylene plates. Incubation mixtures containing 0.5 mg/ml total protein, and substrates were prewarmed at 37°C for 5 min. Substrate concentrations used were 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8× the reported Km values for each substrate (Pelkonen et al., 1998). Reactions were initiated by the addition of NADPH/MgCl2 and were incubated for 15 min at 37°C. Reactions were stopped by the addition of 100 μl of ice-cold acetonitrile containing 1 μM antipyrine as an internal standard. The plates were stored at 4°C for 30 min and then centrifuged at 1800g for 10 min to pellet precipitated proteins. Supernatants were transferred to another 96-well plate and analyzed for amounts of the P450 isoform-specific metabolite formed using an Agilent 1100 (Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA), Gilson 215 (Gilson, Villier Le Bel, France), and Applied Biosystems API 4000 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) LC/MS/MS system. The analytes were separated using a Phenomenex Synergi C18 column (75 × 4.6 mm) (Phenomenex, Torrance, CA) and a gradient consisting of 0.1% formic acid/water (mobile phase A) and 0.1% formic acid/acetonitrile (mobile phase B) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The analytes and internal standard were detected by positive ion spray in the multiple reaction-monitoring mode. The precursor/product ion mass transitions monitored for each of the metabolites analyzed and the internal standard antipyrine were: m/z 151.9/110.0 for acetaminophen; m/z 287.0/106.9 for 4-OH tolbutamide; m/z 234.9/149.9 for 4-OH mephenytoin; m/z 258.0/156.9 for dextrorphan; m/z 305.1/269.0 for 6β-hydroxytestosterone; and m/z 188.9/77.0 for antipyrine.
The Km for human liver microsomal metabolism of bortezomib was determined by incubating 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 50 μM bortezomib with 0.5 mg/ml HLM in a final volume of 100 μl in 96-well polypropylene plates. Reactions were initiated by the addition of NADPH/MgCl2 and were incubated for 10 min at 37°C; reactions without NADPH were also included. Reactions were stopped by the addition of 100 μl of ice-cold acetonitrile containing 1 μM carbutamide as an internal standard. The precipitated proteins were pelleted by centrifugation, and supernatants were analyzed by LC/MS/MS. Bortezomib versus internal standard (carbutamide) peak area ratios were measured using a LC/MS/MS system that consisted of a Shimadzu LC (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan), a LEAP autosampler (LEAP Technologies, Carrboro, NC), and a Sciex API 4000 detector (Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex, Foster City, CA). Separation was performed on a Waters Symmetry C18 2.1 × 3.0-mm high-pressure liquid chromatography column, and the analytes and internal standard were eluted at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min. Mobile phase A consisted of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water, and the mobile phase B consisted of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in acetonitrile. Bortezomib and the internal standard were detected by positive ion spray in the multiple reaction-monitoring mode. The precursor/product ion mass transitions monitored were m/z 366.9/225.9 for bortezomib and m/z 271.9/155.7 for the internal standard.
Determination of Rate of Metabolism. The rate of metabolism of bortezomib was determined with HLM and individual P450 supersomes. The rate of disappearance of bortezomib was determined by measuring the amounts of bortezomib remaining at 0, 3, 7, 12, 20, and 30 min. Incubations were performed at 37°C and contained 2 μM bortezomib, 0.5 mg/ml total protein (incubations with Supersomes contained 10 pmol/ml of each P450), 2 mM NADPH, and 3 mM MgCl2 in a final volume of 100 μl. Reactions were stopped with 100 μl of acetonitrile containing 1 μM carbutamide as the internal standard at the above-mentioned time points. Samples were processed and analyzed by LC/MS/MS to determine bortezomib versus internal standard (carbutamide) peak area ratios as mentioned earlier. The percentage recovery of bortezomib was determined by comparison of peak area ratios of bortezomib versus internal standard in samples containing bortezomib and protein (HLM) and samples containing bortezomib and buffer only.
Contribution of P450s 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 to the Net Hepatic Metabolism of Bortezomib Using Chemical Inhibitors and Monoclonal Antibodies
Serial dilutions of the P450-selective chemical inhibitors furafylline, sulfaphenazole, omeprazole, quinidine, and ketoconazole and ascites fluids containing P450-specific monoclonal antibodies were prepared in potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Concentrations of the chemical inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies that showed minimum cross-reactivity and maximum inhibition of the human liver microsomal metabolism of the P450 isoform-selective substrates phenacetin, tolbutamide, S-mephenytoin, dextromethorphan, and testosterone were determined with a series of concentrations (1:3 serial dilutions) of the chemical inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies. HLM were preincubated with the predetermined optimal concentrations of the chemical inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies for 5 min at 37°C in 96-well polypropylene plates; reactions were initiated by the addition of the P450 substrates or bortezomib and prewarmed NADPH/MgCl2. The reaction mixtures contained 0.5 mg/ml HLM, monoclonal antibodies or chemical inhibitors, P450 substrates (Km concentrations) or bortezomib (2 μM), 2 mM NADPH, and 3 mM MgCl2 in a final volume of 100 μl and were incubated at 37°C for 15 min. Reactions were stopped by the addition of 100 μl of ice-cold acetonitrile containing carbutamide as an internal standard. The plates were stored at 4°C for 30 min and then centrifuged at 1800g for 10 min to pellet-precipitated proteins. Supernatants were transferred to another 96-well plate and analyzed for amounts of metabolite formed (for the P450 marker substrates) or amount of bortezomib remaining, as described earlier. The percentage inhibition of metabolism of the P450-selective substrates or bortezomib was calculated as described below.
Data Analyses. LC/MS/MS data were analyzed using Analyst software, version 1.2. Kinetic parameters Km and Vmax for each of the P450-catalyzed reactions were determined from velocity versus substrate concentration plots using Prism software (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, CA). For the determination of Km for the human liver microsomal metabolism of bortezomib, the amount of metabolite formed was calculated by measuring Δ bortezomib as shown in eq. 1.
Δ Bortezomib was plotted against substrate concentration, and Km was determined by nonlinear regression using Prism.
Calculation of RAFCL. The relative contributions of the P450s 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 to the rate of metabolism of bortezomib in humans were determined as shown. The RAF for each of the five P450 isoforms was calculated according to eq. 2.
Contribution of CYPn to metabolism of bortezomib was subsequently calculated using eq. 3.
vCYPn and vHLM were calculated by linear regression analysis on log (percentage of bortezomib remaining) versus time plots. The amount of metabolite formed at 5 min was determined from the linear regression plots to determine the vCYPn and vHLM under initial velocity conditions. The plots of % bortezomib remaining in HLM versus time are shown in Fig. 2.
Calculation of Percent Inhibition of Human Liver Microsomal Metabolism of Bortezomib by P450-Selective Chemical Inhibitors. The percentage inhibition of human liver microsomal metabolism of bortezomib by the P450-selective inhibitors used in the study was calculated as shown in eq. 4.
Calculation of Percent Inhibition of Human Liver Microsomal Metabolism of Bortezomib by Inhibitory Monoclonal Antibodies. The percentage inhibition of human liver microsomal metabolism of bortezomib by the CYP-specific monoclonal antibodies used in the study was calculated as shown in eq. 5.
Results
The Km and Vmax for CYP1A2-catalyzed phenacetin O-deethylation, CYP2C9-catalyzed tolbutamide hydroxylation, CYP2C19-catalyzed S-mephenytoin hydroxylation, CYP2D6-catalyzed dextromethorphan O-demethylation, and CYP3A4-catalyzed testosterone 6β-hydroxylation using HLM and cDNA-expressed P450s are shown in Table 1. The Km values obtained were similar to the values reported previously (Pelkonen et al., 1998). The RAFs for the five major human P450, calculated using eq. 2, are also shown in Table 1. The Km for the human liver microsomal metabolism of bortezomib was determined to be approximately 16.6 μM (data not shown). The recovery of bortezomib from samples containing protein was >90% compared with samples containing bortezomib and buffer only, and hence recovery of bortezomib from reaction mixtures was not of concern. The rates of metabolism of bortezomib with HLM and cDNA-expressed CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 along with the percentage contribution of each P450 isoform, calculated using eq. 3, to the human liver microsomal metabolism of bortezomib are presented in Table 2. The rate of metabolism of bortezomib with HLM was determined to be 438 pmol/min/0.5 mg microsomal protein. The rates of metabolism of bortezomib with the cDNA-expressed P450s followed the order: CYP2C19 > CYP3A4 > CYP2D6 > CYP1A2 > CYP2C9. After normalizing with RAF, the percentage contribution of each P450 isoform in HLM to the rate of metabolism of bortezomib was as follows: CYP3A4 (38.4%) > CYP2C19 (30.1%) > CYP1A2 (10.5%) > CYP2D6 (7.1%) > CYP2C9 (1.2%). Thus, CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 were the major P450s that contributed to the metabolism of bortezomib. The sum of the contributions of the five P450s studied was approximately 87%.
The concentrations of the P450-selective chemical inhibitors furafylline (1A2), sulfaphenazole (2C9), omeprazole (2C19), quinidine (2D6), and ketoconazole (3A4) that inhibit the human liver microsomal metabolism of the P450-specific substrates with a high degree of selectivity were determined. Furafylline (100 μM), sulfaphenazole (10 μM), quinidine (10 μM), and ketoconazole (1 μM) showed >86% inhibition of metabolism of phenacetin, tolbutamide, dextromethorphan, and testosterone, respectively. Omeprazole (11 μM) was the least selective and inhibited the hydroxylation of S-mephenytoin by only 61% while also inhibiting the hydroxylation of tolbutamide by 21%. Furafylline and ketoconazole also exhibited some cross-reactivity by inhibiting 16 and 21% of the S-mephenytoin hydroxylation, respectively.
The percentage inhibitions of bortezomib metabolism in HLM by the P450 inhibitors are shown in Table 3. The percentage inhibition is equivalent to the percentage contribution of the P450 isoforms studied. Based on chemical inhibition studies, the percentage contribution of each P450 isoform to human liver microsomal bortezomib metabolism followed the order: CYP3A4 (69.8%) > CYP2C19 (33.5%) > CYP2D6 (23.4%) > CYP1A2 (15.8%) > CYP2C9 (13.6%). The sum of the contributions of the five P450s studied, as determined using chemical inhibitors, was approximately 150%.
Dilutions of the ascites fluid containing the P450-specific monoclonal antibodies that exhibited maximal inhibition of metabolism of the P450 isoform-specific substrates are shown in Table 4. Monoclonal antibodies against P450s 1A2 (1:800 dilution), 2C19 (1:240 dilution), 2D6 (1:40 dilution), and 3A4 (1:20 dilution) exhibited >80% inhibition of metabolism of their respective substrates, whereas the monoclonal antibody to CYP2C9 (1:240) inhibited tolbutamide hydroxylation only ∼65%. The percentage inhibitions of bortezomib metabolism by P450-specific inhibitory monoclonal antibodies at the predetermined dilutions are shown in Table 4. The percentage inhibition is equivalent to the percentage contribution of each P450 isoform considered in this study. Thus, based on studies with the monoclonal antibodies, the percentage contribution of each P450 isoform to the human liver microsomal metabolism of bortezomib followed the order: CYP3A4 (79%) > CYP2C19 (23%) > CYP1A2 (18%) > CYP2D6 (6.6%) > CYP2C9 (5.4%). The sum of the contributions of the five P450s studied, as determined using inhibitory monoclonal antibodies, was approximately 130%.
Discussion
The three in vitro approaches employed to determine the relative contributions of the five major human P450s indicate that CYP3A4 followed by CYP2C19 are the major P450 isoforms that contribute to the net hepatic metabolism of bortezomib. Albeit minor, P450s 1A2, 2C9, and 2D6 also play a role in the hepatic metabolism of bortezomib. The percentage contributions varied according to the methodology used; nonetheless, the conclusions were essentially similar. Furthermore, these results mirrored the qualitative in vitro metabolite profiling studies with bortezomib. Whereas P450s 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 mediated the biotransformation of bortezomib to the primary deboronated metabolites, carbinolamides, CYP3A4, and CYP2C19 played a more significant role in the generation of secondary metabolites (Pekol et al., 2005), implicating CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 as the major players in the overall hepatic metabolism of bortezomib.
In this study, the relative contributions of the human P450s to the overall hepatic metabolism of the drug of interest (i.e., bortezomib) have been determined rather than evaluating the contributions of the P450s to a specific biotransformation pathway, as has been reported previously by several investigators (Rochat et al., 1997; Venkatakrishnan et al., 2001a; Wójcikowski et al., 2003). The advantage of this approach lies in the fact that it provides valuable information, even if the major metabolite or route of biotransformation for the drug of interest has not been elucidated. Furthermore, these studies were conducted with 2 μM bortezomib, a nonsaturating and clinically relevant concentration. Following a 1 mg/m2 dose, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) in patients is approximately 150 nM (M Karol, personal communication). Liver concentrations of bortezomib in patients may reach 10× the plasma concentrations, approximately 1.5 μM, although it is unlikely to reach Km concentrations (∼16 μM in HLM).
Determination of RAFs for isoforms of Phase I or Phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes was first proposed by Crespi (1995). The availability of HLM and cDNA-expressed P450s enables P450 “reaction mapping,” to be performed on a routine basis. Simple reaction mapping reveals qualitative information on metabolites generated and may not represent an accurate picture of the relative contribution of the individual P450 isoforms to the overall metabolism of drugs because of differences in recombinant systems and microsomal preparations. The RAFs serve as scaling factors that account for differences in relative hepatic abundance and intrinsic activities of the P450 isoforms between the cDNA-expressed enzymes and the human liver microsomal analogs (Rodrigues, 1999; Venkatakrishnan et al., 2001b; Rochat, 2003). The one disadvantage of this approach may be that its accuracy is dependent on the selectivity of the P450 isoform-selective index reaction; the kinetic parameters for these reactions need to be performed with every batch of HLM used, individual or pooled preparations alike. In this respect, inhibitory antibodies offer a distinct advantage and, with increasing availability, provide a convenient way for evaluating the percentage contribution of P450s to the metabolism of a drug, as has been demonstrated in the current study. Highly specific monoclonal antibodies have become available recently, and their utility in conducting such studies is being appreciated (Gelboin et al., 1999; Shou et al., 2000). In the case where inhibitory monoclonal antibodies are unavailable, P450-selective chemical inhibitors can also provide valuable and reliable information, provided that the studies are conducted with appropriate concentrations of the inhibitors. The specificity of the chemical inhibitors used may be a confounding factor in the overall accuracy of results (Newton et al., 1995; Zhang et al., 2002; Li et al., 2004); a degree of cross-reactivity was observed with omeprazole and ketoconazole (see Results). Highly selective CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 inhibitors benzylnirvanol and azamulin, respectively, have become available in the recent years and may be used in reaction-phenotyping studies. A multipronged approach that includes 1) recombinant P450s and P450 isoform-selective index reactions, 2) chemical inhibitors, and 3) inhibitory antibodies has been identified as important tools for P450 reaction phenotyping (Lu et al., 2003), and we have employed all three approaches to confirm the relative contribution of P450s to the hepatic metabolism of bortezomib. Although the three approaches yielded similar results in that P450s 3A4 and 2C19 were shown to be the major contributors to the hepatic metabolism of bortezomib, there are discrepancies with regards to the sum of the percentage contributions of the five P450s evaluated. The sum of the percentage contributions of the P450s as determined by the RAF method was 87%, whereas with monoclonal antibodies and chemical inhibitors, the sums were 130 and 150%, respectively. In the case of chemical inhibitors, the high degree of cross-reactivity observed with omeprazole and ketoconazole may contribute to the observed phenomenon. It has been suggested that bortezomib may be susceptible to metal ion-mediated degradation (Wu et al., 2000), which may be exacerbated in the presence of protein (J. S. Daniels, personal communication). In incubations with monoclonal antibodies, nonspecific protein-mediated degradation of bortezomib may have contributed to its depletion. Although reactions with a control antibody HyHel-9 were included, a lack of sufficient material prevented equalization of total protein amounts in the reactions with the monoclonal antibodies; reactions with the anti-P450 antibodies were normalized with respect to reactions containing the same dilution of the control antibody.
The knowledge that CYP3A4, the most abundant P450 in the human liver, is the predominant P450 that mediates the hepatic metabolism of bortezomib is valuable for designing clinical studies to evaluate the potential drug interactions that may occur with coadministered chemotherapeutic agents, many of which are substrates or inhibitors of CYP3A4. The CYP3A4 inhibitors ketoconazole and troleandomycin have been shown to increase the exposure of SN-38 in cancer patients and inhibit the metabolism of SN-38 in vitro (Kehrer et al., 2002). Thus, coadministration of bortezomib with potent CYP34 inhibitors like ketoconazole and troleandomycin may require attention to the dosage bortezomib. However, clearance of bortezomib in humans at the recommended dose of 1.0 mg/m2 is approximately 0.4 l/h/kg, which is one-third the liver blood flow rate; thus, CYP3A4-based drug-drug interactions may not be observed in patients. Clinical trials to determine the effects of ketoconazole coadministration in patients receiving bortezomib are currently underway. Although the effects of CYP3A4/5 polymorphisms on drug clearance are not well understood at present (Lamba et al., 2002; Roy et al., 2005), polymorphisms in the CYP2C subfamily, especially CYP2C19, are known and populations of poor metabolizers with diminished capacity for S-mephenytoin 4′-hydroxylation have been identified (deMorais et al., 1994). CYP2C19 is absent in approximately 15 to 30% of Asians (Wilkinson et al., 1989), and hence, administration of bortezomib to Asian populations may require care. Clinical trials to assess the potential of omeprazole coadministration to cause CYP2C19-mediated drug-drug interactions are also being conducted. The fact that all five major human P450s contribute to the hepatic metabolism of bortezomib may help mitigate drug-drug interactions arising because of concomitantly administered CYP3A4 modulators or substrates or P450 polymorphisms.
Footnotes
-
Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at http://dmd.aspetjournals.org.
-
doi:10.1124/dmd.105.005710.
-
ABBREVIATIONS: Phe-Leu-B(OH)2, N-(2,3-pyrazine) carbonyl-l-phenylalanine-l-leucine boronic acid; CPT-11, irinotecan hydrochloride, 7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin; RAF, relative activity factor; RAFCL, relative activity factor as a ratio of clearance; P450, cytochrome P450; HLM, human liver microsome(s); SN-38, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin; LC, liquid chromatography; MS, mass spectrometry.
- Received June 1, 2005.
- Accepted August 15, 2005.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics