Impaired irinotecan biotransformation in hepatic microsomal fractions from patients with chronic liver disease.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT: The anticancer agent irinotecan is a prodrug that is hydrolyzed by hepatic carboxylesterase to its active and toxic metabolite SN-38 and oxidized by CYP3A4 to its inactive metabolite APC. Irinotecan therapy is complicated by co-administered drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 and decrease APC formation and that indirectly increase SN-38 formation. Dose adjustment in cancer patients with liver disease has been recommended. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: In microsomal fractions from patients with severe hepatic dysfunction both APC and SN-38 formation were decreased due to down-regulation of CYP3A4 and carboxylesterase enzymes. Thus relative SN-38 : APC formation was preserved. In some fractions the SN-38:APC ratio was increased, thus providing a possible explanation for clinical reports of increased SN-38 exposure in some patients with liver dysfunction. Close monitoring of SN-38 formation in patients with severe liver disease is warranted. AIMS: Dose modification with the anticancer agent irinotecan is recommended in patients with severe liver dysfunction. This study evaluated the impact of liver disease on the relative formation of phase I products of irinotecan biotransformation in human microsomes in vitro.
METHODS: Microsomes from subjects with normal liver function and liver dysfunction (n=20) were assessed for irinotecan biotransformation and the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and carboxylesterase (CES) enzymes.
RESULTS: Liver disease down-regulated CYP3A4 expression (median 33% of control, range 0-126%, P<0.05) and impaired CYP3A4-dependent oxidation of irinotecan to the inactive 7-ethyl-10-[4-N-(5-aminopentanoic acid)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (APC) (median 0.2, range 0-1.21 pmol mg protein(-1) min(-1) compared with median 0.66, range 0-2.35 in control, P<0.01). CES-mediated hydrolysis of irinotecan to 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38) was also impaired in liver disease (median 8.38, range 0-20.7 pmol mg protein(-1) min(-1) compared with median 13.3, range 0-28.9 in control, P<0.05). In seven of 20 liver disease microsomes neither metabolite was detected but in three the SN-38:APC ratio was high (41-68) compared with the remaining 10 samples (ratio 11-36).
CONCLUSIONS: Down-regulation of CYP3A4 in liver disease decreased APC formation from irinotecan. SN-38 production was decreased and CES1 and 2 were down-regulated in most samples. However, in a subset of disease samples SN-38 production was relatively high because CYP3A4 activity was markedly impaired. This may account for clinical reports of increased SN-38 exposure in some patients with liver disease. Dose adjustments in cancer patients with liver disease who receive irinotecan are important and circulating SN-38 concentrations should be monitored closely.