Inhibition of drug metabolizing cytochrome P450s by the aromatase inhibitor drug letrozole and its major oxidative metabolite 4,4'-methanol-bisbenzonitrile in vitro.

Article Details

Citation

Jeong S, Woo MM, Flockhart DA, Desta Z

Inhibition of drug metabolizing cytochrome P450s by the aromatase inhibitor drug letrozole and its major oxidative metabolite 4,4'-methanol-bisbenzonitrile in vitro.

Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2009 Oct;64(5):867-75. doi: 10.1007/s00280-009-0935-7. Epub 2009 Feb 7.

PubMed ID
19198839 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the inhibitory potency of letrozole and its main human metabolite, 4,4'-methanol-bisbenzonitrile, on the activities of eight cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. METHODS: Letrozole and its metabolite were incubated with human liver microsomes (HLMs) (or expressed CYP isoforms) and NADPH in the absence (control) and presence of the test inhibitor. RESULTS: Letrozole was a potent competitive inhibitor of CYP2A6 (K (i) 4.6 +/- 0.05 microM and 5.0 +/- 2.4 microM in HLMs and CYP2A6, respectively) and a weak inhibitor of CYP2C19 (K (i) 42.2 microM in HLMs and 33.3 microM in CYP2C19), while its metabolite showed moderate inhibition of CYP2C19 and CYP2B6. Letrozole or its metabolite had negligible effect on other CYPs. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the in vitro K (i) values, letrozole is predicted to be a weak inhibitor of CYP2A6 in vivo. Letrozole and its major human metabolite show inhibitory activity towards other CYPs, but clinically relevant drug interactions seem less likely as the K (i) values are above the therapeutic plasma concentrations of letrozole.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs
Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
LetrozoleCytochrome P450 2A6ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Inhibitor
Details
LetrozoleCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
Drug Reactions
Reaction
Details
Drug Interactions
DrugsInteraction
Methadone
Aminoglutethimide
The serum concentration of Methadone can be increased when it is combined with Aminoglutethimide.
Methadone
Testolactone
The serum concentration of Methadone can be increased when it is combined with Testolactone.
Methadone
Exemestane
The serum concentration of Methadone can be increased when it is combined with Exemestane.
Methadone
Letrozole
The serum concentration of Methadone can be increased when it is combined with Letrozole.
Methadone
Anastrozole
The serum concentration of Methadone can be increased when it is combined with Anastrozole.