4-hydroxy-n-desmethyltamoxifen and Hot-Flashes

Adjuvant endocrine therapies are known to induce undesirable adverse effects such as vasomotor, vaginal and musculoskeletal symptoms among breast cancer patients. Drugs used in these therapies are often metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, in which their metabolising activities can be modified by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in CYP genes and CYP genotypes. This review aims to explore whether SNPs or genotypes of CYP are associated with the occurrence, frequency and severity of vasomotor, vaginal and musculoskeletal symptoms in breast cancer patients on adjuvant endocrine therapies.. A literature review was conducted using five electronic databases, resulting in the inclusion of 14 eligible studies, and their findings were presented narratively. Selected items from the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist were used for critical appraisal of the reporting quality of the included studies.. Most of the included studies showed that SNPs or genotypes of CYP that modify its metabolising activity have no effect on the occurrence, frequency or severity of vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes. One study showed no correlation of these genetic variations in CYP with musculoskeletal symptoms, and no data were available on the association between such genetic variations and vaginal symptoms.. Overall, genetic variations in CYP have no effect on the experience of hot flashes among breast cancer patients. We recommend exploration of the link between the active metabolites of chemotherapeutic drugs and the molecules shown to affect the occurrence or severity of hot flashes, and the establishment of the relationship between such genetic variations and patients' experience of musculoskeletal and vaginal symptoms. Subgroup analyses based on patients' duration of adjuvant endocrine therapies in such studies are recommended.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Arthralgia; Atrophy; Breast Neoplasms; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Estrogen Antagonists; Estrogens; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Hot Flashes; Humans; Mastectomy; Observational Studies as Topic; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Severity of Illness Index; Tamoxifen; Vagina

Topics: Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; Antidepressive Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Biotransformation; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Cyclohexanols; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors; Delayed-Action Preparations; Depressive Disorder, Major; Drug Interactions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Genotype; Hot Flashes; Humans; Middle Aged; Pharmacogenetics; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Tamoxifen; Treatment Outcome; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

An association between CYP2D6 polymorphisms and tamoxifen (TAM) efficacy has not been confirmed, partly due to unreliable prediction of active metabolite exposure solely by CYP2D6 activity. The efficacy of TAM dose escalation appears limited in poor TAM metabolizers. Since the chlorine atom on the side chain of toremifene (TOR) prevents 4-hydroxylation by CYP2D6, its contribution to active conversion of TOR is minor. We examined the role of TOR and its dose escalation among poor TAM metabolizers.. The pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacogenomics (PGx) of TAM and TOR were studied. Correlation between PK and CYP2D6 inhibitor use, smoking status, and PGx were examined by regression analysis. For patients showing low endoxifen levels, an intra-patient dose escalation of TOR was conducted, and TOR was increased from 40 to 120 mg for ≥ 24 weeks with PK sampling. Total activity was calculated as the sum of the concentration of each active metabolite adjusted by their respective in vitro activities.. Fifty and 11 of the 273 participating patients had endoxifen levels < 15 and < 7.5 ng/mL, respectively. The CYP2D6 genotype was the major determinant for TAM activity (p < 0.01). Smoking status (p = 0.07) and the CYP2C19 phenotype (p = 0.07), but not the CYP2D6 genotype (p = 0.61), showed marginally significant effects on TOR activity. TOR activity increased significantly with dose escalation, even among poor TAM metabolizers, and was maintained for ≥ 24 weeks.. TOR might be a valid alternative to TAM in patients predicted to be poor TAM metabolizers.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast Neoplasms; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors; Female; Genotype; Hot Flashes; Humans; Hydroxylation; Middle Aged; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Genetic; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; Smoking; Tamoxifen; Toremifene

Severe hot flash (HF) toxicity due to tamoxifen can compromise compliance. We previously found that HFs did not correlate with endoxifen level or CYP2D6 genotype. In this study, we reduced tamoxifen dose in patients with severe HFs to determine whether HFs were ameliorated whilst maintaining a purported therapeutic endoxifen level of >15 nM.. Twenty patients with severe HFs on 20 mg TAM had CYP2D6genotype, trough level tamoxifen and metabolites measured with Loprinzi HF scores (HFS) derived before and after DR of tamoxifen to 10 mg. Other data collected included demographics, smoking, alcohol, menstrual and breast cancer history, previous chemotherapies, concurrent medications, BMI and other tamoxifen toxicities.. At the 20 mg tamoxifen dose, endoxifen levels were 25.6, 0-91.9 nM (median, range) with HFS 131, 22-1482 (median, range). Upon DR to 10 mg, median endoxifen level fell to 14.1, 0.6-71.9 nM (difference in means p = 0.11, two-tailed T test) with HFS 47, 5-864 (difference in means p = 0.24, two-tailed T test). Despite lacking statistical significance, 85% of patients reported subjective improvement of HFs with DR. After DR, the proportion of patients with endoxifen level <15 nM increased from 20% to 50%. HFS did not correlate with any other parameter.. DR of tamoxifen from 20 mg to 10 mg daily resulted in halving of endoxifen levels and subjective improvement of HF. While half the dose-reduced patients were below a potential therapeutic level of endoxifen, other recent studies suggest that low endoxifen levels may not indicate reduced effectiveness of tamoxifen.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Breast Neoplasms; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Genotype; Hot Flashes; Humans; Middle Aged; Tamoxifen; Treatment Outcome

Tamoxifen is frequently prescribed to prevent breast cancer recurrence. Tamoxifen is a prodrug and requires bioactivation by CYP2D6. Tamoxifen use is often limited by adverse effects including severe hot flashes. There is paucity of prospectively collected data in terms of CYP2D6 genotype and measured tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and endoxifen concentrations in relation to hot flash severity during tamoxifen therapy.. We conducted a longitudinal prospective study of breast cancer patients on tamoxifen (n = 410). At each visit, blood samples were collected, and patients completed a standardized hot flash survey (n = 1144) that reflected hot flash severity during the 7 days prior to the visit. Plasma concentrations of tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and endoxifen were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and genotyping was carried out for CYP2D6. A linear mixed-effects regression analysis assessed the association of covariates in relation to the hot flash severity score (HFSS).. Median age at first assessment was 50 years with 61.9% of patients considered peri-menopausal. Most patients (92.2%) experienced hot flash symptoms with 51.0% having low HFSS (0-4) and 7.32% experiencing HFSS > 25. Age was significantly associated with hot flash severity, with patients aged 45-59 more likely to have higher HFSS. Neither duration of tamoxifen therapy nor observed tamoxifen, endoxifen and 4-hydroxy tamoxifen plasma concentration predicted hot flash severity. Genetic variation in CYP2D6 or CYP3A4 was not predictive of hot flash severity.. Hot flash severity during tamoxifen therapy can not be accounted for by CYP2D6 genotype or observed plasma concentration of tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, or endoxifen.

Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; Female; Genotype; Hot Flashes; Humans; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen use is often limited in some patients due to adverse effects including severe hot flash symptoms. Tamoxifen undergoes hepatic bioactivation by CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 to form the active metabolite endoxifen. It remains unclear whether the extent of attained endoxifen level or genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes is associated with the frequency and severity of hot flashes. We conducted a prospective study using self-reported surveys to assess tamoxifen side effects experienced during the week prior to clinic visits of 132 female breast cancer patients on tamoxifen therapy, and hot flash severity scores were tabulated. At the time of clinic visit, blood samples were obtained to determine tamoxifen and its metabolite levels and to determine CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 genotypes. The majority of participants (77 %) experienced hot flashes, with 11 % experiencing severe or very severe symptoms. We observed an inverse correlation between endoxifen concentration and hot flash severity score following adjustment for age, BMI, and menopausal status in patients with non-zero scores (p < 0.001). Interestingly, CYP2D6 genotype was not significantly associated with hot flash scores in patients on no known inhibitory medications. However, CYP3A4*22 carriers were less likely to have hot flashes with an odds ratio of 8.87 (p < 0.01) even when compared to a cohort with similar endoxifen levels. Our data demonstrate that patients with higher endoxifen levels tended to predict lower hot flash severity scores. Importantly, this is the first study to show CYP3A4*22 genotype as an independent predictor of hot flash severity during tamoxifen therapy.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Breast Neoplasms; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Middle Aged; Self Report; Tamoxifen