The impact of cytochrome P450 2D6 metabolism in women receiving adjuvant tamoxifen.

Article Details

Citation

Goetz MP, Knox SK, Suman VJ, Rae JM, Safgren SL, Ames MM, Visscher DW, Reynolds C, Couch FJ, Lingle WL, Weinshilboum RM, Fritcher EG, Nibbe AM, Desta Z, Nguyen A, Flockhart DA, Perez EA, Ingle JN

The impact of cytochrome P450 2D6 metabolism in women receiving adjuvant tamoxifen.

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007 Jan;101(1):113-21. Epub 2006 Nov 18.

PubMed ID
17115111 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen is biotransformed to the potent anti-estrogen, endoxifen, by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 enzyme. CYP2D6 genetic variation and inhibitors of the enzyme markedly reduce endoxifen plasma concentrations in tamoxifen-treated patients. Using a North Central Cancer Treatment Group adjuvant tamoxifen trial, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of CYP2D6 metabolism by assessing the combined effect of genetic variation and inhibition of the enzyme system on breast cancer recurrence and death. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed at each randomizing site to determine whether CYP2D6 inhibitors were co-prescribed with tamoxifen. Extensive metabolizers were defined as patients without a *4 allele (i.e., wt/wt) who were not co-prescribed a CYP2D6 inhibitor. Patients with decreased CYP2D6 metabolism were classified as intermediate or poor metabolizers (PM) based on the presence of one or two CYP2D6*4 alleles or the co-administration of a moderate or potent CYP2D6 inhibitor. The association between CYP2D6 metabolism and clinical outcome was assessed using Cox modeling. RESULTS: Medication history was available in 225/256 eligible patients and CYP2D6*4 genotype in 190 patients. Thirteen patients (6%) were co-prescribed a CYP2D6 inhibitor [potent (n = 3), moderate (n = 10)], resulting in the following CYP2D6 metabolism: extensive (n = 115) and decreased (n = 65). In the multivariate analysis, patients with decreased metabolism had significantly shorter time to recurrence (p = 0.034; adj HR = 1.91; 95% CI 1.05-3.45) and worse relapse-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.017; adj HR = 1.74; 1.10-2.74); relative to patients with extensive metabolism. Cox' modeling demonstrated that compared to extensive metabolizers, PM had the most significant risk of breast cancer relapse (HR 3.12, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: CYP2D6 metabolism, as measured by genetic variation and enzyme inhibition, is an independent predictor of breast cancer outcome in post-menopausal women receiving tamoxifen for early breast cancer. Determination of CYP2D6 genotype may be of value in selecting adjuvant hormonal therapy and it appears CYP2D6 inhibitors should be avoided in tamoxifen-treated women.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Pharmaco-genomics
DrugInteracting Gene/EnzymeAllele nameGenotypesDefining change(s)Type(s)DescriptionDetails
TamoxifenCytochrome P450 2D6
Gene symbol: CYP2D6
UniProt: P10635
CYP2D6*4(A;A)Effect Directly StudiedPatients with this genotype have reduced metabolism of tamoxifen resulting in reduced plasma concentrations its active form endoxifen.Details