Letrozole concentration is associated with CYP2A6 variation but not with arthralgia in patients with breast cancer.

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Borrie AE, Rose RV, Choi YH, Perera FE, Read N, Sexton T, Lock M, Vandenberg TA, Hahn K, Dinniwell R, Younus J, Logan D, Potvin K, Yaremko B, Yu E, Lenehan J, Welch S, Tyndale RF, Teft WA, Kim RB

Letrozole concentration is associated with CYP2A6 variation but not with arthralgia in patients with breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2018 Nov;172(2):371-379. doi: 10.1007/s10549-018-4910-z. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

PubMed ID

30094551 [ View in PubMed

]

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aromatase inhibitor (AI) letrozole is a first-line drug in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Adherence to AI therapy, including letrozole, remains problematic due to the development of debilitating AI-induced arthralgia. Letrozole is metabolized in the liver by CYP2A6. It remains unknown if plasma letrozole levels or CYP2A6 genetic variation is associated with the development of arthralgia. METHODS: We enrolled 126 female breast cancer patients initiated on letrozole therapy and prospectively collected blood samples at baseline and two follow-up time points to determine letrozole plasma concentrations and CYP2A6 genotype. At each visit, participants completed two validated questionnaires to assess the severity of arthralgia symptoms. RESULTS: More than half (55%) of patients experienced a significant increase in their arthralgia symptoms after initiation of treatment. The clinical variables of body mass index (P = 0.0003) and age (P = 0.0430) were negatively and positively associated with plasma letrozole concentrations, respectively. CYP2A6 genotype was significantly associated with letrozole levels (P < 0.0001), and increased plasma letrozole levels were observed in patients with CYP2A6 reduced-function genotypes. Plasma levels of letrozole and CYP2A6 genotype were not significantly associated with a change in pain score from baseline. CONCLUSIONS: CYP2A6 genotype was a significant predictor of letrozole plasma levels, but was not associated with the development of arthralgia.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes

Drug	Enzyme	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Letrozole	Cytochrome P450 2A6	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Substrate Inhibitor	Details