Ovarian cancer is one of the most common female cancer diseases in the world today and in Sweden more than 800 new cases are diagnosed every year. The standard treatment consists of chemotherapy with paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin after initial cytoreductive surgery. The response to treatment and the severity of adverse drug reactions after chemotherapy varies greatly among individuals, and one of the most important factors responsible for these differences is now recognized to be the genetic variability. One of the major obstacles to successful treatment is drug resistance. Several potential mechanisms have been suggested for the resistance to paclitaxel, such as mutations in the target protein β-tubulin, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene ABCB1, which encodes the transport protein P-glycoprotein. P-glycoprotein can mediate efflux of various drugs from cancer cells as well as from the circulation into the intestinal lumen, and overexpression and/or high activity leads to drug resistance and/or increased elimination. Another reason might be the high interindividual variability of paclitaxel plasma concentrations, which has been suggested to be influenced by variability in metabolic enzymes, such as CYP2C8 and CYP3A4, and transport proteins e.g. P-glycoprotein. In the studies constituting this thesis we have investigated the possibilities of predicting the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel as well as the tumor response and adverse drug reactions after chemotherapy in the preparation of personalized chemotherapy. We studied the correlation between the response and the presence of mutations in the dominant β-tubulin gene and SNPs in ABCB1. DNA from 40 ovarian tumors was screened for sequence variations in the β-tubulin gene without finding any, showing that β-tubulin mutations are rare and unlikely to be a clinically relevant resistance mechanism for paclitaxel. The SNPs G2677T/A and C3435T in the ABCB1 gene were determined in 53 ovarian cancer tumors from patients with poor (progressive disease or relapse within one year) or good (disease-free survival of more than one year) response to paclitaxel-carboplatin chemotherapy. Patients homozygously mutated for G2677T/A had a higher probability of responding to chemotherapy. There was also a dose-dependent influence of the number of mutated alleles on the response to paclitaxel treatment. No correlation was found for the C3435T variant. By using a newly developed quantitative LC/MS method for the simultaneous determination of paclitaxel and its hydroxymetabolites in human plasma we assessed the individual elimination of paclitaxel in 33 ovarian cancer patients. The patients were genotyped for SNPs in the ABCB1, CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 genes and their in vivo CYP3A4 enzyme activity, tumor response and toxicity, especially the neurotoxicity, were determined. Patients heterozygous for G/A in position 2677 in ABCB1 had a significantly higher clearance of paclitaxel than patients with the wild type or homozygously mutated, but not compared to patients carrying the G/T alleles. A lower clearance of paclitaxel was also found for patients heterozygous for CYP2C8*3 when stratified according to the ABCB1 G2677T/A genotype. The CYP3A4 enzyme activity in vivo affected the relative influence of CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 on the metabolism, but not the total clearance of paclitaxel. The exposure to paclitaxel was correlated to the neurotoxicity, but not to the treatment response. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the SNP G2677T/A in the ABCB1 gene, but not β-tubulin mutations, might be a predictor for paclitaxel response and that the interindividual variability in paclitaxel pharmacokinetics might be predicted by ABCB1 and CYP2C8 genotypes and provide useful information for individualized chemotherapy. / Ovarialcancer (äggstockscancer) är en av de vanligaste cancerformerna hos kvinnor i Sverige idag. Behandlingen består vanligen av tumörreducerande kirurgi följd av kemoterapi med paklitaxel och karboplatin. Målsättningen med detta avhandlingsarbete har varit att förbättra cytostatikabehandlingen (cellgiftsbehandlingen) med framförallt paklitaxel vid ovarialcancer genom att lägga grunden för individualisering av doser och förutsäga tumörsvaret vid behandlingen. Ett problem med dagens cancerbehandling är att många cancerceller så småningom blir resistenta mot olika cytostatika. För att angripa den mest resistenta cellen innan den induceras att öka uttrycket av, eller utveckla, fler resistensmekanismer vore det en fördel om vi före behandlingen kunde prediktera vilken dos av cytostatika som är bäst lämpad för individen samt om tumören kommer att reagera på behandlingen eller ej. En av de viktigaste faktorerna för skillnader i behandlingseffekt tros vara genetiska variationer mellan olika individer. I våra studier har vi använt genetiska metoder för att studera om vi kan prediktera tumörsvaret vid behandlingen genom att bestämma mutationer i genen för paklitaxels målprotein, β-tubulin, samt bestämma genetiska variationer i ABCB1-genen, kodande för transportproteinet P-glykoprotein. Tanken är att ett förändrat målprotein eller en förändrad förmåga hos cancercellerna eller kroppen att transportera ut paklitaxel skulle leda till en skillnad i påverkan på tumören. DNA från 40 ovarialtumörer analyserades utan att en enda sekvensvariation hittades i genen för β-tubulin, vilket tyder på att genetiska förändringar i genen för β-tubulin sannolikt inte är en klinisk relevant resistensmekanism. De normalt förekommande genetiska variationerna G2677T/A och C3435T i ABCB1-genen bestämdes i DNA från 53 ovarialtumörer där behandlingen endera givit en bra (tumörfri minst ett år) eller dålig (progression av tumören eller tumörfri mindre än ett år) anti-tumöreffekt. Patienter som var dubbelmuterade i position 2677 dvs hade endera T/T eller T/A (A/A hittades inte i materialet) i denna position hade en högre sannolikhet att få ett bra anti-tumörsvar vid behandlingen. Även antalet muterade baser påverkade utfallet, ju fler muterade baser i position 2677, desto högre sannolikhet att få ett bra svar på behandlingen. Andelen T eller A var också högre i den grupp av patienter som fått en lyckad behandling. För att kunna prediktera patientens individuella förmåga att bryta ner paklitaxel studerade vi inverkan av sekvensvariationer i generna för de nedbrytande enzymerna, CYP2C8 och CYP3A4, och transportproteinet P-glykoprotein (genen ABCB1) på eliminationen av läkemedlet i kroppen. Vi utvecklade en metod för att mäta paklitaxelkoncentrationerna i blodet och använde den för att studera hur snabbt 33 ovarialcancer patienter eliminerade cytostatikat från blodbanan. Hos dessa patienter bestämde vi förekomsten av kända genetiska variationer i generna ABCB1, CYP2C8 och CYP3A4 samt deras CYP3A4 enzymaktivitet i kroppen. Biverkningarna och tumörsvaret vid behandlingen utvärderades också. Eliminationen av paklitaxel hos dessa patienter var beroende av vilken bas som fanns i position 2677 i ABCB1-genen och förekomsten av den genetiska varianten CYP2C8*3. Enzymaktiviteten hos CYP3A4 kunde inte påvisas påverka eliminationen av paklitaxel utan snarare vilket enzym, CYP2C8 eller CYP3A4, som var relativt dominant i respektive patient. Exponeringen av paklitaxel korrelerade till den neurologiska påverkan som patienten orsakades av cytostatikat, men kunde inte korreleras till tumörsvaret vid slutet av cytostatikabehandlingen. Sammanfattningsvis ger patientens genetiska variationer i ABCB1, men inte β-tubulin, information om behandlingsutfallet. Genetiska variationer i CYP2C8 och ABCB1 påverkar patientens förmåga att eliminera paklitaxel och kan förhoppningsvis användas för att individualisera doserna. Vår förhoppning är att resultaten i denna avhandling skall kunna användas för att individualisera och ytterligare förbättra cytostatikabehandlingen vid ovarialcancer.

Cytochrome P450 3A isozymes (CYP3A) metabolize approximately 50% of therapeutic drugs. It has recently been discovered that human CYP3A mRNA levels can be induced by hypertonicity; a physiological state not previously linked to its regulation. The osmosensitive transcription factor, Nuclear Factor of Activated T-Cells 5 (NFAT5), regulates multiple genes that restore osmolyte homeostasis and promote cell protection during osmotic stress. In silico examinations and in vitro experiments using reporters, knockdown and binding assays in the human intestinal cell line C2bbe1 have revealed an active tonicity-responsive enhancer (TonE) within CYP3A7 intron (+5417/+5427 from CYP3A7 transcriptional start site) that is responsible for NFAT5 binding and NFAT5-dependent regulation of CYP3A isoforms. In addition, hypertonicity-mediated CYP3A induction is also observed in both hepatic and intestinal cell lines. Effects of tonicity changes on in vivo CYP3A expression and function were examined in a humanized CYP3A transgenic mouse with similar tissue expression in humans. More specifically, intervention with prolonged dehydration involving alternating between 24-hour cycles of water-deprivation and water ad lib for 1 week (cyclic water-deprivation; four 24-hour water-deprivation and three 24-hour water ad lib periods), increased expression of NFAT5 target genes Slc6a12 in the liver and kidney (2.5 ± 0.6-fold over water ad lib, n = 14, p = 0.04; and 3.1 ± 0.6-fold, n = 10, p = 0.02, respectively), Akr1b3 in the liver, and Slc5a3 in the kidney. Immunofluorescent microscopy revealed an increase of nuclear-distributed mouse NFAT5 in cyclic water-deprived animals, consistent with NFAT5 activation. Most importantly, CYP3A4 mRNA levels were noted to be elevated in the liver and kidney (11.8 ± 4.8-fold over water ad lib, n = 14, p = 0.04 and 2.2 ± 0.4-fold, n = 9, p = 0.02, respectively), with concurrent CYP3A protein and activity increase. Localized hypertonic environment in the gut was simulated by providing animals with a week-long high-salt diet. The effects of high-salt diet in the gut were similar to those of cyclic water-deprivation in the liver and kidney; where NFAT5 showed nuclear distribution and NFAT5 target gene expression (Slc6a12; 20.5 ± 6.7-fold over a week-long low-salt diet, n = 8, p = 0.02 and Slc6a6; 3.2 ± 0.7-fold, n = 10, p < 0.01, in the duodenum). Furthermore, an increase of CYP3A4 mRNA was observed (2.6 ± 0.5-fold over a week-long low-salt diet, n = 14, p = 0.03), with a corresponding rise in protein expression and activity levels. In summary, increased expression of in vitro and in vivo human CYP3A was achieved using a hypertonic stimulus; concurrent NFAT5 activation and NFAT5 target gene expression were observed. These results suggested a possible binding of activated NFAT5 to CYP3A TonE situated within the intronic region of CYP3A7. It could be further concluded that NFAT5 may be responsible for the hypertonic induction of human CYP3A.

Cytochrome P450 3A isozymes (CYP3A) metabolize approximately 50% of therapeutic drugs. It has recently been discovered that human CYP3A mRNA levels can be induced by hypertonicity; a physiological state not previously linked to its regulation. The osmosensitive transcription factor, Nuclear Factor of Activated T-Cells 5 (NFAT5), regulates multiple genes that restore osmolyte homeostasis and promote cell protection during osmotic stress. In silico examinations and in vitro experiments using reporters, knockdown and binding assays in the human intestinal cell line C2bbe1 have revealed an active tonicity-responsive enhancer (TonE) within CYP3A7 intron (+5417/+5427 from CYP3A7 transcriptional start site) that is responsible for NFAT5 binding and NFAT5-dependent regulation of CYP3A isoforms. In addition, hypertonicity-mediated CYP3A induction is also observed in both hepatic and intestinal cell lines. Effects of tonicity changes on in vivo CYP3A expression and function were examined in a humanized CYP3A transgenic mouse with similar tissue expression in humans. More specifically, intervention with prolonged dehydration involving alternating between 24-hour cycles of water-deprivation and water ad lib for 1 week (cyclic water-deprivation; four 24-hour water-deprivation and three 24-hour water ad lib periods), increased expression of NFAT5 target genes Slc6a12 in the liver and kidney (2.5 ± 0.6-fold over water ad lib, n = 14, p = 0.04; and 3.1 ± 0.6-fold, n = 10, p = 0.02, respectively), Akr1b3 in the liver, and Slc5a3 in the kidney. Immunofluorescent microscopy revealed an increase of nuclear-distributed mouse NFAT5 in cyclic water-deprived animals, consistent with NFAT5 activation. Most importantly, CYP3A4 mRNA levels were noted to be elevated in the liver and kidney (11.8 ± 4.8-fold over water ad lib, n = 14, p = 0.04 and 2.2 ± 0.4-fold, n = 9, p = 0.02, respectively), with concurrent CYP3A protein and activity increase. Localized hypertonic environment in the gut was simulated by providing animals with a week-long high-salt diet. The effects of high-salt diet in the gut were similar to those of cyclic water-deprivation in the liver and kidney; where NFAT5 showed nuclear distribution and NFAT5 target gene expression (Slc6a12; 20.5 ± 6.7-fold over a week-long low-salt diet, n = 8, p = 0.02 and Slc6a6; 3.2 ± 0.7-fold, n = 10, p < 0.01, in the duodenum). Furthermore, an increase of CYP3A4 mRNA was observed (2.6 ± 0.5-fold over a week-long low-salt diet, n = 14, p = 0.03), with a corresponding rise in protein expression and activity levels. In summary, increased expression of in vitro and in vivo human CYP3A was achieved using a hypertonic stimulus; concurrent NFAT5 activation and NFAT5 target gene expression were observed. These results suggested a possible binding of activated NFAT5 to CYP3A TonE situated within the intronic region of CYP3A7. It could be further concluded that NFAT5 may be responsible for the hypertonic induction of human CYP3A.

The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the in vivo relevance of membrane transporters and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4-mediated metabolism in the intestine and liver for the bioavailability of drugs in humans after oral administration. In the first part of the thesis, the main transport mechanisms involved in the intestinal absorption and bioavailability were investigated for fexofenadine, a minimally metabolized drug, which is a substrate for P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and members of organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) family. Jejunal perfusion studies revealed that co-perfusion with verapamil increased the bioavailability of fexofenadine by decreasing the first-pass liver extraction as the low intestinal permeability was unchanged by the transport inhibitors studied. The mechanism behind the interaction probably involves inhibition of OATP-mediated sinusoidal uptake and/or P-gp-mediated canalicular secretion of fexofenadine. Results from the Caco-2 model supported that the intestinal absorption of fexofenadine is mainly determined by the low passive permeability of the drug, even though fexofenadine clearly is a P-gp substrate. In the second part of the thesis, the effect of repeated oral administration of the P-gp and CYP3A4 inducer St. John’s wort on the in vivo intestinal permeability and presystemic metabolism of the dual P-gp and CYP3A4 substrate verapamil was investigated in a jejunal perfusion study. St. John’s wort decreased the bioavailability of the enantiomers of verapamil by inducing the CYP3A4-mediated presystemic metabolism, probably mainly in the gut. It was also concluded that induction of efflux transporters, such as P-gp, does not affect the intestinal transport or the gut wall extraction of high permeability substrates like verapamil. Data from Caco-2 cells with induced CYP3A4-activity supported these findings. The plasma levels of the enantiomers of norverapamil also decreased despite an increased formation, which was attributed to induction of CYP3A4 and/or other metabolic routes.

Introdução: a ação antiestrogênica do tamoxifeno (TAM) é dependente da bioativação à endoxifeno (EDF) e 4-hidroxitamoxifeno (HTF). É bastante provável que sua eficácia terapêutica esteja relacionada ao alcance de um limiar nos níveis de EDF (>5,9 ng mL-1). Entretanto, as concentrações plasmáticas de EDF são altamente variáveis, em parte devido a polimorfismos no gene da CYP2D6 e ao uso de inibidores da enzima. A CYP3A4 também contribui para a formação do EDF e pode ser influenciada por interações medicamentosas e exposição solar. Recentemente, o polimorfismo CYP3A4*22 foi associado à redução da atividade da enzima. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre seu impacto na formação do EDF. Objetivo: Em virtude da alta variabilidade na resposta terapêutica e os múltiplos fatores associados ao metabolismo do TAM, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito dos polimorfismos da CYP2D6 e CYP3A4, interações medicamentosas e exposição à vitamina D na bioativação do TAM. Adicionalmente, dois métodos analíticos para a otimização do tratamento através da medida das razões metabólicas da CYP2D6 e quantificação do TAM e metabólitos em manchas de sangue seco (DBS) foram desenvolvidos. Patientes & métodos: Cento e dezesseis pacientes em tratamento adjuvante com o TAM forneceram amostras de plasma para dosagens do TAM, metabótilos e 25OHD3 no inverno e verão. As concentrações de TAM e metabólitos em plasma e DBS foram medidas por LCMS/ MS. Foram avaliados os genótipos da CYP2D6 e CYP3A4, bem como fenótipos obtidos pelas razões metabólicas determinadas após administração dos fármacos sonda dextrometorfano e omeprazol. As concentrações de vitamina D3 em plasma foram quantificadas por HPLC-UV. Foram obtidas informações sobre uso de inibidores ou indutores das enzimas e suplementação de vitamina D. Resultados: Cerca de 20% das pacientes apresentaram atividade metabólica reduzida para a CYP2D6 e 7% para a CYP3A4. Aproximadamente 30% das metabolizadoras lentas (ML), 56% das metabolizadoras intermediárias (MI) e 11.3% das metabolizadoras rápidas (MR) usavam fármaco inibidor da CYP2D6. As concentrações de EDF diminuiram proporcionalmente à redução da atividade metabólica da CYP2D6 (ML 2,79 ng mL-1, MI 5.36 ng mL-1 e MR 10,65 ng mL-1, P<0.01). A mediana das concentrações plasmáticas de TAM e HTF em pacientes CYP2D6 MI com metabolismo reduzido da CYP3A4 (161,50 ng mL-1 e 1,32 ng mL-1, respectivamente) foram superiores as encontradas nos pacientes CYP2D6 MI com metabolismo funcional da CYP3A4 (122,07 ng mL-1 e 0.61 ng mL-1, respectivamente, P<0.05). Adicionalmente, as concentrações de HTF e TAM foram aproximadamente 50% superiores em pacientes com genótipo CYP3A4*22 em comparação aos pacientes *1/*1. A sazonalidade também contribuiu para a variabilidade das concentrações dos metabólitos ativos, os níveis de EDF foram 24% e HTF 42% superiores no verão. Nas análises de DBS, foi possível identificar 96% dos pacientes com concentrações de EDF abaixo do limiar clínico, indicando seu potencial uso no monitoramento terapêutico do TAM. Conclusão: a CYP3A4 contribui para a bioativação do TAM através da formação de HTF, tornando-se mais importante em condições de atividade diminuída ou ausente da CYP2D6. Os níveis plasmáticos de EDF e HTF demonstraram ser influenciados pela sazonalidade, com aumento significativo no verão. Entretanto o mecanismo relacionado a associação da vitamina D, exposição solar e bioativação do TAM permanecem por ser elucidados. / Background: The therapeutic antiestrogenic effect of tamoxifen (TAM) requires metabolic activation to endoxifen (EDF) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (HTF). Adequate therapeutic outcome seems to be dependent on the achievement of a threshold of EDF concentration (>5.9 ng mL-1). EDF plasma levels are highly variable among patients, which could be partly explained by polymorphisms in the CYP2D6 gene and the use of enzymes inhibitor drugs. In a lesser extent, CYP3A4 also contributes to EDF formation and can be influenced by drug interactions and sun exposure. From a genetic point of view, a recently described CYP3A4*22 polymorphism has been associated with reduced enzyme activity. However, there is little knowledge about the impact of CYP3A4 polymorphisms on EDF formation. Objective: In view of the large variability on therapeutic response and the multiple factors associated to TAM metabolic activation, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms, drug interactions and vitamin D exposure on TAM metabolic activation. Additionally, two analytical methods for optimization of TAM treatment by measurement of CYP2D6 metabolic ratios and quantification of TAM and metabolites in dried blood sopts (DBS) were developed. Patients & methods: One hundred and sixteen patients under TAM therapy provided blood samples for measurement of TAM, NDT, EDF, HTF and 25OHD3 at Winter and Summer. TAM and metabolites were measured in plasma and DBS by LC-MS/MS. CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 genotypes and phenotypes, given according to [DMT]/[DTP] and [OME]/[OMS] metabolic ratios after administration of probe drugs, were also evaluated. Vitamine D3 was measured in plasma by HPLC-UV. Data on use of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer drugs and vitamin D supplementation were recorded. Results: About 20% of patients had reduced CYP2D6 metabolic activity and 7% CYP3A4 impaired metabolism. Approximately 30% of CYP2D6 poor metabolizers (PM), 56% of intermediate metabolizers (IM) and 11.3% of extensive metabolizers (EM) were using CYP2D6 inhibitor drugs. EDF levels diminished proportionally to the reduction of CYP2D6 metabolic activity (PM 2.79 ng mL-1, IM 5.36 ng mL-1 and EM 10.65 ng mL-1, P<0.01). Median plasma levels of TAM (161.50 ng mL-1) and HTF (1.32 ng mL-1) in CYP2D6 IM patients with reduced CYP3A4 metabolism were higher (P<0.05) than those from CYP2D6 IM patients with functional CYP3A4 metabolism (122.07 ng mL-1 and 0.61 ng mL-1, respectively). Indeed, HTF and TAM plasma levels were approximately 50% higher in patients with CYP3A4*22 genotype compared to patients with alleles *1/*1. Seasonality also contributed to EDF and HTF variability, summer concentrations were 24% and 42% higher compared to winter. The DBS method was able to identify 96% of patients with plasma EDF concentrations below the clinical threshold and can be used in therapeutic monitoring of TAM. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CYP3A4 contributes to the bioactivation of TAM through formation of HTF and becomes increasingly important in conditions of diminished or absent CYP2D6 activity. A significant variability on EDF and HTF exposure related to seasonality was identified, with considerable higher plasma concentrations during summer. The mechanism relating vitamin D status, seasonality and biotransformation of TAM still remains to be elucidated.

Introdução: a ação antiestrogênica do tamoxifeno (TAM) é dependente da bioativação à endoxifeno (EDF) e 4-hidroxitamoxifeno (HTF). É bastante provável que sua eficácia terapêutica esteja relacionada ao alcance de um limiar nos níveis de EDF (>5,9 ng mL-1). Entretanto, as concentrações plasmáticas de EDF são altamente variáveis, em parte devido a polimorfismos no gene da CYP2D6 e ao uso de inibidores da enzima. A CYP3A4 também contribui para a formação do EDF e pode ser influenciada por interações medicamentosas e exposição solar. Recentemente, o polimorfismo CYP3A4*22 foi associado à redução da atividade da enzima. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre seu impacto na formação do EDF. Objetivo: Em virtude da alta variabilidade na resposta terapêutica e os múltiplos fatores associados ao metabolismo do TAM, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito dos polimorfismos da CYP2D6 e CYP3A4, interações medicamentosas e exposição à vitamina D na bioativação do TAM. Adicionalmente, dois métodos analíticos para a otimização do tratamento através da medida das razões metabólicas da CYP2D6 e quantificação do TAM e metabólitos em manchas de sangue seco (DBS) foram desenvolvidos. Patientes & métodos: Cento e dezesseis pacientes em tratamento adjuvante com o TAM forneceram amostras de plasma para dosagens do TAM, metabótilos e 25OHD3 no inverno e verão. As concentrações de TAM e metabólitos em plasma e DBS foram medidas por LCMS/ MS. Foram avaliados os genótipos da CYP2D6 e CYP3A4, bem como fenótipos obtidos pelas razões metabólicas determinadas após administração dos fármacos sonda dextrometorfano e omeprazol. As concentrações de vitamina D3 em plasma foram quantificadas por HPLC-UV. Foram obtidas informações sobre uso de inibidores ou indutores das enzimas e suplementação de vitamina D. Resultados: Cerca de 20% das pacientes apresentaram atividade metabólica reduzida para a CYP2D6 e 7% para a CYP3A4. Aproximadamente 30% das metabolizadoras lentas (ML), 56% das metabolizadoras intermediárias (MI) e 11.3% das metabolizadoras rápidas (MR) usavam fármaco inibidor da CYP2D6. As concentrações de EDF diminuiram proporcionalmente à redução da atividade metabólica da CYP2D6 (ML 2,79 ng mL-1, MI 5.36 ng mL-1 e MR 10,65 ng mL-1, P<0.01). A mediana das concentrações plasmáticas de TAM e HTF em pacientes CYP2D6 MI com metabolismo reduzido da CYP3A4 (161,50 ng mL-1 e 1,32 ng mL-1, respectivamente) foram superiores as encontradas nos pacientes CYP2D6 MI com metabolismo funcional da CYP3A4 (122,07 ng mL-1 e 0.61 ng mL-1, respectivamente, P<0.05). Adicionalmente, as concentrações de HTF e TAM foram aproximadamente 50% superiores em pacientes com genótipo CYP3A4*22 em comparação aos pacientes *1/*1. A sazonalidade também contribuiu para a variabilidade das concentrações dos metabólitos ativos, os níveis de EDF foram 24% e HTF 42% superiores no verão. Nas análises de DBS, foi possível identificar 96% dos pacientes com concentrações de EDF abaixo do limiar clínico, indicando seu potencial uso no monitoramento terapêutico do TAM. Conclusão: a CYP3A4 contribui para a bioativação do TAM através da formação de HTF, tornando-se mais importante em condições de atividade diminuída ou ausente da CYP2D6. Os níveis plasmáticos de EDF e HTF demonstraram ser influenciados pela sazonalidade, com aumento significativo no verão. Entretanto o mecanismo relacionado a associação da vitamina D, exposição solar e bioativação do TAM permanecem por ser elucidados. / Background: The therapeutic antiestrogenic effect of tamoxifen (TAM) requires metabolic activation to endoxifen (EDF) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (HTF). Adequate therapeutic outcome seems to be dependent on the achievement of a threshold of EDF concentration (>5.9 ng mL-1). EDF plasma levels are highly variable among patients, which could be partly explained by polymorphisms in the CYP2D6 gene and the use of enzymes inhibitor drugs. In a lesser extent, CYP3A4 also contributes to EDF formation and can be influenced by drug interactions and sun exposure. From a genetic point of view, a recently described CYP3A4*22 polymorphism has been associated with reduced enzyme activity. However, there is little knowledge about the impact of CYP3A4 polymorphisms on EDF formation. Objective: In view of the large variability on therapeutic response and the multiple factors associated to TAM metabolic activation, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms, drug interactions and vitamin D exposure on TAM metabolic activation. Additionally, two analytical methods for optimization of TAM treatment by measurement of CYP2D6 metabolic ratios and quantification of TAM and metabolites in dried blood sopts (DBS) were developed. Patients & methods: One hundred and sixteen patients under TAM therapy provided blood samples for measurement of TAM, NDT, EDF, HTF and 25OHD3 at Winter and Summer. TAM and metabolites were measured in plasma and DBS by LC-MS/MS. CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 genotypes and phenotypes, given according to [DMT]/[DTP] and [OME]/[OMS] metabolic ratios after administration of probe drugs, were also evaluated. Vitamine D3 was measured in plasma by HPLC-UV. Data on use of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer drugs and vitamin D supplementation were recorded. Results: About 20% of patients had reduced CYP2D6 metabolic activity and 7% CYP3A4 impaired metabolism. Approximately 30% of CYP2D6 poor metabolizers (PM), 56% of intermediate metabolizers (IM) and 11.3% of extensive metabolizers (EM) were using CYP2D6 inhibitor drugs. EDF levels diminished proportionally to the reduction of CYP2D6 metabolic activity (PM 2.79 ng mL-1, IM 5.36 ng mL-1 and EM 10.65 ng mL-1, P<0.01). Median plasma levels of TAM (161.50 ng mL-1) and HTF (1.32 ng mL-1) in CYP2D6 IM patients with reduced CYP3A4 metabolism were higher (P<0.05) than those from CYP2D6 IM patients with functional CYP3A4 metabolism (122.07 ng mL-1 and 0.61 ng mL-1, respectively). Indeed, HTF and TAM plasma levels were approximately 50% higher in patients with CYP3A4*22 genotype compared to patients with alleles *1/*1. Seasonality also contributed to EDF and HTF variability, summer concentrations were 24% and 42% higher compared to winter. The DBS method was able to identify 96% of patients with plasma EDF concentrations below the clinical threshold and can be used in therapeutic monitoring of TAM. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CYP3A4 contributes to the bioactivation of TAM through formation of HTF and becomes increasingly important in conditions of diminished or absent CYP2D6 activity. A significant variability on EDF and HTF exposure related to seasonality was identified, with considerable higher plasma concentrations during summer. The mechanism relating vitamin D status, seasonality and biotransformation of TAM still remains to be elucidated.

Introdução: a ação antiestrogênica do tamoxifeno (TAM) é dependente da bioativação à endoxifeno (EDF) e 4-hidroxitamoxifeno (HTF). É bastante provável que sua eficácia terapêutica esteja relacionada ao alcance de um limiar nos níveis de EDF (>5,9 ng mL-1). Entretanto, as concentrações plasmáticas de EDF são altamente variáveis, em parte devido a polimorfismos no gene da CYP2D6 e ao uso de inibidores da enzima. A CYP3A4 também contribui para a formação do EDF e pode ser influenciada por interações medicamentosas e exposição solar. Recentemente, o polimorfismo CYP3A4*22 foi associado à redução da atividade da enzima. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre seu impacto na formação do EDF. Objetivo: Em virtude da alta variabilidade na resposta terapêutica e os múltiplos fatores associados ao metabolismo do TAM, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito dos polimorfismos da CYP2D6 e CYP3A4, interações medicamentosas e exposição à vitamina D na bioativação do TAM. Adicionalmente, dois métodos analíticos para a otimização do tratamento através da medida das razões metabólicas da CYP2D6 e quantificação do TAM e metabólitos em manchas de sangue seco (DBS) foram desenvolvidos. Patientes & métodos: Cento e dezesseis pacientes em tratamento adjuvante com o TAM forneceram amostras de plasma para dosagens do TAM, metabótilos e 25OHD3 no inverno e verão. As concentrações de TAM e metabólitos em plasma e DBS foram medidas por LCMS/ MS. Foram avaliados os genótipos da CYP2D6 e CYP3A4, bem como fenótipos obtidos pelas razões metabólicas determinadas após administração dos fármacos sonda dextrometorfano e omeprazol. As concentrações de vitamina D3 em plasma foram quantificadas por HPLC-UV. Foram obtidas informações sobre uso de inibidores ou indutores das enzimas e suplementação de vitamina D. Resultados: Cerca de 20% das pacientes apresentaram atividade metabólica reduzida para a CYP2D6 e 7% para a CYP3A4. Aproximadamente 30% das metabolizadoras lentas (ML), 56% das metabolizadoras intermediárias (MI) e 11.3% das metabolizadoras rápidas (MR) usavam fármaco inibidor da CYP2D6. As concentrações de EDF diminuiram proporcionalmente à redução da atividade metabólica da CYP2D6 (ML 2,79 ng mL-1, MI 5.36 ng mL-1 e MR 10,65 ng mL-1, P<0.01). A mediana das concentrações plasmáticas de TAM e HTF em pacientes CYP2D6 MI com metabolismo reduzido da CYP3A4 (161,50 ng mL-1 e 1,32 ng mL-1, respectivamente) foram superiores as encontradas nos pacientes CYP2D6 MI com metabolismo funcional da CYP3A4 (122,07 ng mL-1 e 0.61 ng mL-1, respectivamente, P<0.05). Adicionalmente, as concentrações de HTF e TAM foram aproximadamente 50% superiores em pacientes com genótipo CYP3A4*22 em comparação aos pacientes *1/*1. A sazonalidade também contribuiu para a variabilidade das concentrações dos metabólitos ativos, os níveis de EDF foram 24% e HTF 42% superiores no verão. Nas análises de DBS, foi possível identificar 96% dos pacientes com concentrações de EDF abaixo do limiar clínico, indicando seu potencial uso no monitoramento terapêutico do TAM. Conclusão: a CYP3A4 contribui para a bioativação do TAM através da formação de HTF, tornando-se mais importante em condições de atividade diminuída ou ausente da CYP2D6. Os níveis plasmáticos de EDF e HTF demonstraram ser influenciados pela sazonalidade, com aumento significativo no verão. Entretanto o mecanismo relacionado a associação da vitamina D, exposição solar e bioativação do TAM permanecem por ser elucidados. / Background: The therapeutic antiestrogenic effect of tamoxifen (TAM) requires metabolic activation to endoxifen (EDF) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (HTF). Adequate therapeutic outcome seems to be dependent on the achievement of a threshold of EDF concentration (>5.9 ng mL-1). EDF plasma levels are highly variable among patients, which could be partly explained by polymorphisms in the CYP2D6 gene and the use of enzymes inhibitor drugs. In a lesser extent, CYP3A4 also contributes to EDF formation and can be influenced by drug interactions and sun exposure. From a genetic point of view, a recently described CYP3A4*22 polymorphism has been associated with reduced enzyme activity. However, there is little knowledge about the impact of CYP3A4 polymorphisms on EDF formation. Objective: In view of the large variability on therapeutic response and the multiple factors associated to TAM metabolic activation, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms, drug interactions and vitamin D exposure on TAM metabolic activation. Additionally, two analytical methods for optimization of TAM treatment by measurement of CYP2D6 metabolic ratios and quantification of TAM and metabolites in dried blood sopts (DBS) were developed. Patients & methods: One hundred and sixteen patients under TAM therapy provided blood samples for measurement of TAM, NDT, EDF, HTF and 25OHD3 at Winter and Summer. TAM and metabolites were measured in plasma and DBS by LC-MS/MS. CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 genotypes and phenotypes, given according to [DMT]/[DTP] and [OME]/[OMS] metabolic ratios after administration of probe drugs, were also evaluated. Vitamine D3 was measured in plasma by HPLC-UV. Data on use of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer drugs and vitamin D supplementation were recorded. Results: About 20% of patients had reduced CYP2D6 metabolic activity and 7% CYP3A4 impaired metabolism. Approximately 30% of CYP2D6 poor metabolizers (PM), 56% of intermediate metabolizers (IM) and 11.3% of extensive metabolizers (EM) were using CYP2D6 inhibitor drugs. EDF levels diminished proportionally to the reduction of CYP2D6 metabolic activity (PM 2.79 ng mL-1, IM 5.36 ng mL-1 and EM 10.65 ng mL-1, P<0.01). Median plasma levels of TAM (161.50 ng mL-1) and HTF (1.32 ng mL-1) in CYP2D6 IM patients with reduced CYP3A4 metabolism were higher (P<0.05) than those from CYP2D6 IM patients with functional CYP3A4 metabolism (122.07 ng mL-1 and 0.61 ng mL-1, respectively). Indeed, HTF and TAM plasma levels were approximately 50% higher in patients with CYP3A4*22 genotype compared to patients with alleles *1/*1. Seasonality also contributed to EDF and HTF variability, summer concentrations were 24% and 42% higher compared to winter. The DBS method was able to identify 96% of patients with plasma EDF concentrations below the clinical threshold and can be used in therapeutic monitoring of TAM. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CYP3A4 contributes to the bioactivation of TAM through formation of HTF and becomes increasingly important in conditions of diminished or absent CYP2D6 activity. A significant variability on EDF and HTF exposure related to seasonality was identified, with considerable higher plasma concentrations during summer. The mechanism relating vitamin D status, seasonality and biotransformation of TAM still remains to be elucidated.

The majority of drugs available on the market are intended to be administered through the oral route. To achieve the desired therapeutic effect, an orally administered drug must first reach the systemic circulation and then its site of action. The fraction of the administered drug that reaches the systemic circulation is known as oral bioavailability and it is the product of the absorption and first-pass metabolism processes occurring in both the GI tract and the liver. The factors controlling bioavailability are manifold –both drug and physiologically related - and their complex interplay is key to defining a drug’s oral bioavailability. In drug discovery and development it is therefore pivotal to anticipate and understand the bioavailability of a drug candidate; a far from simple task, considering the multifactorial nature of the process. For that reason, the overall aim of this thesis was to provide different modelling and simulation (M&S) strategies that can be used for the prediction of oral bioavailability that can be of use in drug discovery and development. The first part of this thesis was focused on the evaluation of the use of bioavailability data obtained from pre-clinical species as a predictor of the human value, in a more traditional approach. In particular, the aim was to evaluate models that can quantitatively and qualitatively provide a relationship between animal and human bioavailability, by analysing trends in a large bioavailability dataset. This section demonstrated that although pre-clinical species cannot quantitatively predict bioavailability, the data obtained from them can be used for qualitative prediction of the human value. Nevertheless, such a modelling approach does not provide a mechanistic rationale of the factors affecting the bioavailability differences. Consequently, the second part of this thesis was focused on such mechanistic predictions. Particularly, we investigated the impact that drug release patterns can have on drug absorption and intestinal first pass metabolism, taking into account the physiological differences observed across the length of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These release patterns are suspected to lead to bioavailability differences due to changes in the first-pass metabolism, especially for CYP3A substrates. Therefore we investigated this phenomenon applying a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) M&S approach: firstly, from the discovery point of view, using PBPK models in a prospective fashion to investigating the drug-related factors that might lead to such differences and secondly, from the development point of view, to predict the mechanistic differences in absorption and metabolism of oxybutynin, a drug known for its higher bioavailability when formulated as a modified release (MR) product. The latter was done by developing and applying a novel simplified PBPK model to predict such differences. The results of this work showed that the intestinal metabolism can be significantly reduced when having MR formulations of CYP3A substrates which, in some cases, can lead to higher relative bioavailability. Additionally, this thesis provided novel methods and models that have the potential to improve bioavailability predictions when using PBPK models, in particular for drugs formulated as MR.

The cytochrome P450 enzyme system is a multicomponent electron-transfer chain composed of a haem-containing monooxygenase cytochrome P450 (CYP) and one or more redox partners. Eukaryotic CYPs and their redox partner NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) are involved in many biological processes. Each protein has one N- terminal membrane anchor domain for location within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In mammals, CYPs and CPR are especially abundant in liver cells, where they play important roles in the metabolism of steroids, fatty acids, and xenobiotic compounds including numerous drugs of pharmaceutical importance. Incorporation into lipid membranes is an important aspect of CYP and CPR function, influencing their kinetic properties and interactions. In this thesis, soluble nanometer-scale phospholipid bilayer membrane discs, "nanodiscs", were used as a reconstitution system to study the influence of lipid membrane composition on the activities of the abundant human CYP3A4 and human CPR. Both enzymes were expressed and purified from bacteria, and assembled into functionally active membrane-bound complexes in nanodiscs. Nanodisc assembly was assessed by a combination of native and denaturing gel electrophoresis, and a fluorimetric assay was developed to study CYP3A4 reaction kinetics using 7-benzyloxyquinoline as substrate. Kinetic properties were investigated with respect to different lipid membrane compositions: phosphatidyl choline; a synthetic lipid mixture resembling the ER; and natural lipids extracted from liver microsomes. Full activity of the CYP3A4 system, with electron transfer from NADPH via CPR, could only be reconstituted when both CYP3A4 and CPR were membrane-bound within the same nanodiscs. No activity was observed when CPR and CYP3A4 were each incorporated seperately into naodiscs then mixed together, or when soluble forms of CPR were mixed with pre-assembled CYP3A4-nanodiscs. Thus, assembly of the two proteins within the same membrane was shown to be essential for the function of the CPR-CYP3A4 electron transfer system. Comparison of the reaction kinetics in different membrane compositions revealed liver microsomal lipid to have an enhancing effect both on the activity of the assembled CPR-CYP3A4 nanodisc complex, and on the activity of CPR alone incorporated in nanodiscs, when compared either to the synthetic lipid mixture or to phosphatidyl choline alone. Thus, natural lipids appear to possess properties or include components important for the catalytic function of the CYP system, which are absent from synthetic lipid. Input of electrons, measured by NADPH consumption, exceeded product formation rate by the CPR-CYP3A4 complex in nanodiscs, indicating "leakage" in the electron flow, possibly due to uncoupling of the two enzymes. Uncoupling was shown to occur by developing a novel fluorimetric method using the dye MitSOX to detect superoxide production. The significance of this, and to what extent control of coupling could be a natural means of regulation of the CPR-CYP system, remains to be determined. Thus, phospholipid bilayer nanodiscs prove a powerful tool to enable detailed analysis of the reaction kinetics of membrane-reconstituted CPR-CYP systems, and to allow pertinent questions to be addressed concerning the integral significance of the membrane environment.

<p>Drugs and other foreign compounds must often be metabolised before they can be excreted from the body. One enzyme system that is responsible for this is the cytochrome P450 gene family (CYP). In this thesis, new sensitive molecular techniques have been used to study the human gene expression of some CYP enzymes, as well as the P-glycoprotein transporter (P-gp). The aim was to evaluate whether tissues other than the liver, e.g. the blood, could be used to assess an individual's drug metabolic capacity. Another aim was to investigate the gene expression in relation to the liver transplant process and a third aim was to evaluate the expression in gastrointestinal mucosa in both normal and inflamed mucosa.</p><p>We evaluated the CYP gene expression in paired specimens of liver and blood but found no correlation in the expression patterns of these two tissues. Instead, we found the opposite pattern, where, for example, CYP1B1 had the highest expression in the blood but the lowest in the liver and CYP2E1 was the enzyme with the highest expression in the liver. In an investigation of the expression of four different CYP enzymes and P-gp in liver transplants before and during the first year after transplantation, we found that the levels of all the CYP enzymes but not P-gp increased with time. We also found that the expression of CYP3A4 was inversely related to the normalised plasma levels of the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporine and tacrolimus.</p><p>In the gastrointestinal tract, CYP2E1 was the enzyme with the highest mRNA expression compared with CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and the transporter P-gp. CYP3A4 has its highest expression in the duodenum compared with the expression in the stomach and the colon. CYP3A5 is expressed at a higher level than CYP3A4 in the colon. P-gp expression levels increase through the gastrointestinal tract to the left colon. Gene expression levels of CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 decrease in severely inflamed rectal mucosa. </p><p>In conclusion, this is a sensitive method for studying gene activity in a clinical situation, even though at this point we are not able to use blood or gastrointestinal mucosa as “surrogate” tissue to estimate an individual’s drug metabolic capacity. The studies in liver transplants and gastrointestinal mucosa are unique in that the gene expression is investigated during a clinical course of events.</p>