Effect of CYP3A4 inducer dexamethasone on hepatotoxicity of lapatinib: clinical and in vitro evidence.

Article Details

Citation

Teo YL, Saetaew M, Chanthawong S, Yap YS, Chan EC, Ho HK, Chan A

Effect of CYP3A4 inducer dexamethasone on hepatotoxicity of lapatinib: clinical and in vitro evidence.

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Jun;133(2):703-11. doi: 10.1007/s10549-012-1995-7. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

PubMed ID
22370628 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Concomitant usage of lapatinib, a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 substrate and dexamethasone, a CYP3A4 inducer, is a pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction. This combination may increase the formation of reactive lapatinib metabolites, which is potentially hepatotoxic. This study aims to evaluate the clinical effect of dexamethasone on incidence of hepatotoxicity and to ascertain its in vitro role using a parallel cell culture model experimental setup. Clinical effects of dexamethasone on lapatinib-induced hepatotoxicity were evaluated in a nested case-control study based on 120 patient data obtained from our records. For the in vitro experiment, metabolically competent transforming growth factor alpha mouse hepatocytes (TAMH) were treated with lapatinib and viabilities were compared in the presence or absence of dexamethasone. After adjusting for confounders, patients receiving the combination were 4.57 times (95% CI 1.23-16.88, p = 0.02) more likely to develop hepatotoxicity and 3.48 times (95% CI 1.24-9.80, p = 0.02) more likely to develop a clinically important change in alanine aminotransferase than compared to the other group. Treatment of TAMH cells with lapatinib and dexamethasone caused a further reduction in viability, as compared to treatment with lapatinib alone. At 5 muM lapatinib, the introduction of dexamethasone 20 muM produced a 59% decline in viability. This is the first study to document a clinically important interaction between lapatinib and dexamethasone, which associates with an increased occurrence of hepatotoxicity. The in vitro findings have provided substantiating evidence and insights on the role of dexamethasone in lapatinib-induced hepatotoxicity.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
Dexamethasone isonicotinateCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
No
Substrate
Inhibitor
Inducer
Details
Drug Interactions
DrugsInteraction
Lapatinib
Phenytoin
The metabolism of Lapatinib can be increased when combined with Phenytoin.
Lapatinib
Pentobarbital
The metabolism of Lapatinib can be increased when combined with Pentobarbital.
Lapatinib
Carbamazepine
The metabolism of Lapatinib can be increased when combined with Carbamazepine.
Lapatinib
Mitotane
The metabolism of Lapatinib can be increased when combined with Mitotane.
Lapatinib
Primidone
The metabolism of Lapatinib can be increased when combined with Primidone.