C-7 configuration as one of determinants in taxanes metabolism by human cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Taxanes exhibit a high tendency to epimerize at C-7 under physiological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the composite effect of C-7 configuration and other substructural elements on the metabolic properties of taxanes. Cephalomannine, 7-epi-cephalomannine, 10-deacetyl-paclitaxel, and 7-epi-10-deacetyl-paclitaxel were chosen as model compounds. In human liver microsomes, 7-epi-cephalomannine was subject to C-13 lateral chain (M-1) and diterpenoid core monohydroxylation (M-2), mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and CYP2C8, respectively. However, only one 7-epi-10-deacetyl-paclitaxel metabolite (M), monohydroxylated at taxane ring by CYP2C8, was detected. In comparison with cephalomannine, the catalytic efficiency of CYP2C8 for 7-epi-cephalomannine was about five-fold higher due to the decreased K(m). Although CYP2C8 showed a high capacity for metabolizing 7-epi-10-deacetyl-paclitaxel, 10-deacetyl-paclitaxel was hardly metabolized under the identical incubation conditions. In conclusion, C-7 configuration represents one of the most important structural determinants in taxanes metabolism.