Relationship between genotypes Sult1a2 and Cyp2d6 and tamoxifen metabolism in breast cancer patients

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 29;8(7):e70183. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070183. Print 2013.

Abstract

Tamoxifen is a pro-drug widely used in breast cancer patients to prevent tumor recurrence. Prior work has revealed a role of cytochrome and sulfotransferase enzymes in tamoxifen metabolism. In this descriptive study, correlations were examined between concentrations of tamoxifen metabolites and genotypes for CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, SULT1A1, SULT1A2 and SULT1E1 in 135 patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Patients were genotyped using the Roche-AmpliChip® CYP450 Test, and Real-Time and conventional PCR-RFLP. Plasma tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, endoxifen and tamoxifen-N-oxide were isolated and quantified using a high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. Significantly higher endoxifen levels were detected in patients with the wt/wt CYP2D6 compared to the v/v CYP2D6 genotype (p<0.001). No differences were detected in the remaining tamoxifen metabolites among CYP2D6 genotypes. Patients featuring the SULT1A2*2 and SULT1A2*3 alleles showed significantly higher plasma levels of 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen (p = 0.025 and p = 0.006, respectively), as likely substrates of the SULT1A2 enzyme. Our observations indicate that besides the CYP2D6 genotype leading to tamoxifen conversion to potent hydroxylated metabolites in a manner consistent with a gene-dose effect, SULT1A2 also seems to play a role in maintaining optimal levels of both 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / blood
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / metabolism*
  • Arylsulfotransferase / genetics*
  • Arylsulfotransferase / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / genetics*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Tamoxifen / blood
  • Tamoxifen / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Tamoxifen
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6
  • Arylsulfotransferase
  • SULT1A2 protein, human

Grants and funding

This work has been supported partially by a grant from Spanish Health Ministry (FIS, ref number PI07/0416), a grant from Fundación de Investigación Médica Mutua Madrileña (ref number AP27072008), a grant from Cátedra Florencio Tejerina-UEM and by Universidad Europea de Madrid (project number 2011/07). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.