Metabolic pathways of the camptothecin analog AR-67

Drug Metab Dispos. 2011 Apr;39(4):683-92. doi: 10.1124/dmd.110.037390. Epub 2010 Dec 28.

Abstract

7-tert-Butyldimethylsilyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (AR-67; also known as DB-67) is a novel lipophilic camptothecin analog in early-phase anticancer clinical trials. In support of these studies, we evaluated the metabolism of AR-67 in vitro and identified potential metabolites in patient samples. The lactone form of AR-67 was found to be preferentially metabolized over AR-67 carboxylate in human microsomes. Subsequently, the lactone form was tested as a substrate in a panel of CYP450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes known to metabolize the majority of clinically approved molecules. AR-67 was metabolized by CYP3A5, CYP3A4, CYP1A1, and CYP1A2, in order of activity. Extrahepatic UGT1A8 and UGT1A7 possessed at least 6-fold higher metabolizing activity than UGT1A1 and other UGT enzymes tested. CYP1A1 and UGT1A7 displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, whereas CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and UGT1A8 displayed kinetics consistent with substrate inhibition. Chromatographic analysis of representative patient plasma and urine samples demonstrated the presence of AR-67 glucuronides and oxidized products in the urine but only in very minimal amounts. We conclude that limited in vivo metabolism of AR-67 by UGT1A1 may partly explain the absence of AR-67 glucuronides in plasma and hypothesize that UGT1A8- and CYP3A-mediated biotransformation within the gastrointestinal epithelium may provide protective mechanisms against AR-67 gastrointestinal toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / blood
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / metabolism*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / urine
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Camptothecin / blood
  • Camptothecin / chemistry
  • Camptothecin / metabolism
  • Camptothecin / urine
  • Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism*
  • Glucuronides / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Lactones / analysis*
  • Lactones / metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways*
  • Microsomes / metabolism
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Organosilicon Compounds / blood
  • Organosilicon Compounds / chemistry
  • Organosilicon Compounds / metabolism*
  • Organosilicon Compounds / urine
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Glucuronides
  • Lactones
  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • 7-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Camptothecin