Characterizing prostate cancer risk through multi-ancestry genome-wide discovery of 187 novel risk variants

The transferability and clinical value of genetic risk scores (GRSs) across populations remain limited due to an imbalance in genetic studies across ancestrally diverse populations. Here we conducted a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of 156,319 prostate cancer cases and 788,443 controls of European, African, Asian and Hispanic men, reflecting a 57% increase in the number of non-European cases over previous prostate cancer genome-wide association studies. We identified 187 novel risk variants for prostate cancer, increasing the total number of risk variants to 451. An externally replicated multi-ancestry GRS was associated with risk that ranged from 1.8 (per standard deviation) in African ancestry men to 2.2 in European ancestry men. The GRS was associated with a greater risk of aggressive versus non-aggressive disease in men of African ancestry (P = 0.03). Our study presents novel prostate cancer susceptibility loci and a GRS with effective risk stratification across ancestry groups.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Osimertinib and Sotorasib Combination Treatment for Osimertinib Resistance Caused by KRAS G12C Mutation: A Report of Two Cases

Two cases show osimertinib/sotorasib combination could be effective in KRAS G12C-driven osimertinib resistance.

Influence of germline variations in drug transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2 on intracerebral osimertinib efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Central nervous system (CNS) metastases are present in approximately 40% of patients with metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFRm+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor osimertinib is a substrate of transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2 and metabolized by CYP3A4. We investigated relationships between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) ABCB1 3435C>T, ABCG2 421C>A and 34G>A, and CYP3A4∗22 and CNS treatment efficacy of osimertinib in EGFRm+ NSCLC patients.

Methods

Patients who started treatment with osimertinib for EGFRm+ NSCLC between November 2014 and June 2021 were included in this retrospective observational multicentre cohort study. For patients with baseline CNS metastases, the primary endpoint was CNS progression-free survival (CNS-PFS; time from osimertinib start until CNS disease progression or death). For patients with no or unknown baseline CNS metastases, the primary endpoint was CNS disease-free survival (CNS-DFS; time from osimertinib start until occurrence of new CNS metastases). Relationships between SNPs and baseline characteristics with CNS-PFS and CNS-DFS were studied with competing-risks survival analysis. Secondary endpoints were relationships between SNPs and PFS, overall survival, severe toxicity, and osimertinib pharmacokinetics.

Findings

From 572 included patients, 201 had baseline CNS metastases. No SNP was associated with CNS-PFS. Genotype ABCG2 34GA/AA and/or ABCB1 3435CC --present in 35% of patients-- was significantly associated with decreased CNS-DFS (hazard ratio 0.28; 95% CI 0.11-0.73; p = 0.009) in the multivariate analysis. This remained significant after applying a Bonferroni correction and internal validation through bootstrapping. ABCG2 421CA/AA was related to more severe toxicity (27.0% versus 16.5%; p = 0.010).

Interpretation

ABCG2 34G>A and ABCB1 3435C>T are predictors for developing new CNS metastases during osimertinib treatment, probably because of diminished drug levels in the CNS. ABCG2 421C>A was significantly related with the incidence of severe toxicity. Pre-emptive genotyping for these SNPs could individualize osimertinib therapy. Addition of ABCG2 inhibitors for patients without ABCG2 34G>A should be studied further, to prevent new CNS metastases during osimertinib treatment.

Funding

No funding was received for this trial.

Abstract 2137: Clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA in patients with advanced KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC treated with sotorasib

Introduction: The CodeBreaK 200 trial showed that in patients (pts) with advanced KRAS G12C mutated (KRAS+) NSCLC sotorasib, a KRAS G12C-specific inhibitor, is superior to docetaxel for progression free survival (PFS) (HR 0.66) with a one-year PFS of 25%. We hypothesized that the detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in plasma could allow for treatment response prediction and longitudinal monitoring. We analyzed serial plasma samples at baseline and within 3 months of start of sotorasib to evaluate ctDNA changes and correlation with clinical response.

Methods: Pts with sotorasib treated KRAS+ NSCLC were prospectively enrolled in our biomarker START-TKI study (NCT05221372) after written informed consent. Plasma samples were collected prior to treatment (T0) and at first response evaluation (T1). The TruSight Oncology 500 ctDNA panel was used for mutation detection in cell-free DNA (cfDNA). cfDNA KRAS/TP53/STK11/KEAP1 status was determined and compared to tumor tissue pathology reports to filter out false positives. Radiological response and PFS was assessed per RECIST 1.1.

Results: Between May 2021 and August 2022, 35 pts were included (table 1). Of these, 29 (83%) had detectable ctDNA KRAS G12C at T0, and 24 had both T0 and T1 samples. A decrease in variant allele frequency (VAF) at T1 compared to T0 was observed in 88% (n=21); 42% (n=10) showed complete clearance of ctDNA KRAS G12C. Six-months PFS was 83% in T0 negative pts (n=6) versus 43% in T0 positive pts (n=29); and 65% in pts with complete clearance (n=10) versus 14% in pts with incomplete clearance (n=11). VAF increase was seen in 3 pts, of which 1 had progression at T1.

Conclusions: In pts with KRAS+ NSCLC treated with sotorasib, baseline ctDNA and ctDNA clearance within 3 months of treatment correlated with treatment response. Pts with undetectable KRAS ctDNA at baseline, or with complete clearance at first evaluation, had superior PFS. PFS will be updated as follow-up duration extends.

Table 1. Patient cohort Liver metastasis KRAS p.G12C ctDNA at T0, median VAF % (range) KRAS p.G12C ctDNA at T1, median VAF % (range) Median change in VAF % (range) TP53/STK11/KEAP1 ctDNA T0 T1 response Reason EOT ꝉ Time on treatment (months) * Negative at T0 (n=6) No = 6 0 NE NE NE 1x PR; 4x SD; 1x PD 2x PD; 4x ongoing >8 months 6 (1 - 11) Positive at T0 (n=29) No = 20; Yes = 9 2.6 (0.1 - 46.7) 0.6 (0.1 - 38.9) -95% (-100 - +39) 4x TP53; 2x STK11; 1x STK11●; 2x KEAP1; 2x KEAP1●; 2x TP53 + KEAP1; 1x TP53 + STK11● 4x PR; 21x SD; 2x PD; 2x NE 19x PD; 3x toxicity; 6x ongoing >4 months; 1x loss to follow up 3 (1 - 15) Complete clearance at T1 (n=10) No = 6; Yes = 4 1.4 (0.1 - 8.4) 0 100% 2x TP53; 1x TP53 + KEAP1; 1x KEAP1; 1x KEAP1● 1x PR; 9x SD 6x PD; 1x toxicity; 2x ongoing >6 months; 1x loss to follow up 5 (1 - 11) Incomplete clearance at T1 (n=11) No = 7; Yes = 4 3.6 (1.3 - 46.7) 0.4 (0.1 - 29.4) -89% (-23 - -99) 2x TP53; 1x STK11; 1x STK11●; 2x TP53 + STK11●; 1x TP53 + STK11 + KEAP1; 1x STK11 + KEAP1 3x PR; 7x SD; 1x PD 8x PD; 2x toxicity; 1x ongoing >4 months 3 (1 - 8) Increase in VAF at T1 (n=3) No = 2; Yes = 1 1.0 (0.5 - 35.2) 1.1 (0.6 - 38.9) +11% (+10 - +39) 1x TP53●; 1x TP53 + KEAP1; 1x STK11● + KEAP1● 1x PD; 2x SD 3x PD 3 (1 - 15) Positive T0, no T1 available (n=5) No = 5 6.2 (0.3 - 24.6) NE NE 1x TP53; 1x TP53●; 1x KEAP1; 1x STK11 + KEAP1 3x SD; 2x NE 2x PD; 3x ongoing >3 months 2 (1 - 3) NE = Not evaluated; ● = Positive cell-free DNA (cfDNA), not tested in tumor tissue; PR = Partial response; SD = Stable disease; PD = Progressive disease; EOT = End of treatment; ꝉ for PFS analysis patients who discontinued treatment due to toxicity were censored at treatment discontinuation, and patients with ongoing sotorasib treatment were censored at data cut off (16-Nov-2022); * = excluding ongoing patients.

Citation Format: Sophie M. Ernst, Ronald van Marion, Peggy N. Atmodimedjo, Evert de Jonge, Ron H. Mathijssen, Marthe S. Paats, Peter de Bruijn, Ron H.N. van Schaik, Hendrikus J. Dubbink, Anne-Marie C. Dingemans. Clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA in patients with advanced KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC treated with sotorasib [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2137.

Model-Based Prediction of Irinotecan-Induced Grade 4 Neutropenia in Advanced Cancer Patients: Influence of Demographic and Clinical Factors

Severe neutropenia is the major dose-liming toxicity of irinotecan-based chemotherapy. The objective was to assess to what extent a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model including patient-specific demographic/clinical characteristics, individual pharmacokinetics, and absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) can predict irinotecan-induced grade 4 neutropenia. A semimechanistic population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model was developed to describe neutrophil response over time in 197 patients with cancer receiving irinotecan. For covariate analysis, sex, race, age, pretreatment total bilirubin, and body surface area were evaluated to identify significant covariates on system-related parameters (mean transit time (MTT) and ɣ) and sensitivity to neutropenia effects of irinotecan and SN-38 (SLOPE). The model-based simulation was performed to assess the contribution of the identified covariates, individual pharmacokinetics, and baseline ANC alone or with incremental addition of weekly ANC up to 3 weeks on predicting irinotecan-induced grade 4 neutropenia. The time course of neutrophil response was described using the model assuming that irinotecan and SN-38 have toxic effects on bone marrow proliferating cells. Sex and pretreatment total bilirubin explained 10.5% of interindividual variability in MTT. No covariates were identified for SLOPE and γ. Incorporating sex and pretreatment total bilirubin (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC): 50%, 95% CI 50-50%) or with the addition of individual pharmacokinetics (AUC-ROC: 62%, 95% CI 53-71%) in the model did not result in accurate prediction of grade 4 neutropenia. However, incorporating ANC only at baseline and week 1 in the model achieved a good prediction (AUC-ROC: 78%, 95% CI 69-88%). These results demonstrate the potential applicability of a model-based approach to predict irinotecan-induced neutropenia, which ultimately allows for personalized intervention to maximize treatment outcomes.

A low aldosterone/renin ratio and high soluble ACE2 associate with COVID-19 severity

BACKGROUND

The severity of COVID-19 after SARS-CoV-2 infection is unpredictable. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is the receptor responsible for coronavirus binding, while subsequent cell entry relies on priming by the serine protease TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease, serine 2). Although renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) blockers have been suggested to upregulate ACE2, their use in COVID-19 patients is now considered well tolerated. The aim of our study was to investigate parameters that determine COVID-19 severity, focusing on RAAS-components and variation in the genes encoding for ACE2 and TMPRSS2.

METHODS

Adult patients hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2 infection between May 2020 and October 2020 in the Haga Teaching Hospital were included, and soluble ACE2 (sACE2), renin, aldosterone (in heparin plasma) and polymorphisms in the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes (in DNA obtained from EDTA blood) were determined.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Out of the 188 patients who were included, 60 were defined as severe COVID-19 (ICU and/or death). These patients more often used antidiabetic drugs, were older, had higher renin and sACE2 levels, lower aldosterone levels and a lower aldosterone/renin ratio. In addition, they displayed the TMPRSS2-rs2070788 AA genotype less frequently. No ACE2 polymorphism-related differences were observed. Multivariate regression analysis revealed independent significance for age, sACE2, the aldosterone/renin ratio, and the TMPRSS2 rs2070788 non-AA genotype as predictors of COVID-19 severity, together yielding a C-index of 0.79. Findings were independent of the use of RAAS blockers.

CONCLUSION

High sACE2, a low aldosterone/renin ratio and having the TMPRSS2 rs2070788 non-AA genotype are novel independent determinants that may help to predict COVID-19 disease severity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

retrospectively registered.

Safety and pharmacokinetic analysis of UGT1A1 genotype-guided dosing of irinotecan

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Background: Irinotecan is commonly used in the treatment of advanced colorectal and pancreatic cancer. The polymorphisms UGT1A1*28 (7 TA repeats) and UGT1A1*93 (SNP -3156G > A) are significantly associated with increased systemic exposure of irinotecan’s active metabolite SN-38 and subsequently severe irinotecan-associated adverse-events (AEs) including (febrile) neutropenia and diarrhea. Severe AEs may lead to hospitalization, loss of quality of life, treatment delay and/or treatment discontinuation. Nonetheless, prospective genetic screening is not yet routinely performed. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of UGT1A1 genotype-guided dosing of irinotecan in UGT1A1 poor metabolizers (PMs), i.e. UGT1A1 *28/*28 and/or UGT1A1*93/*93 individuals, in order to reduce the incidence of severe irinotecan-associated AEs. Methods: A prospective, multi-center, non-randomized study was conducted in patients intended to be treated with irinotecan at a dose of ≥ 180 mg/m2 or 450-600 mg flat dose. All patients were pre-therapeutically genotyped for UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*93. In UGT1A1 PMs, an initial 30% dose reduction in the first cycle was applied followed by further individual dose titration based on neutrophil count and clinical tolerability. The primary endpoint was the incidence of febrile neutropenia in the first 2 cycles of irinotecan treatment. UGT1A1 PMs were compared to 1] historical control patients, i.e. homozygous polymorphic patients treated with full dose therapy identified from systematic literature review and to 2] UGT1A1 non-PMs treated with standard dose therapy. In addition, systemic SN-38 exposure (AUC0-500h) of reduced dosing in the UGT1A1 PM cohort was compared to a standard dosed irinotecan patient cohort [doi: 10.1200/JCO.2000.18.1.195] by an independent T-test. Results: A total of 349 patients were pre-therapeutically genotyped and included for analysis. Thirty-one (8.9%) patients were UGT1A1 PM, in whom an initial median 30% dose reduction was applied. The incidence of febrile neutropenia in this group was 6.5% compared to 24% in historical controls (n = 50) (p = 0.042) and comparable with the incidence (4.1%; p = 0.632) in UGT1A1 non-PMs treated with full dose therapy. The systemic exposure of SN-38 of reduced dosing in UGT1A1 PMs (n = 17) was comparable to the systemic exposure of the standard dosed irinotecan patient cohort (n = 46) with a relative difference of +24% (p = 0.054) with a geometric mean (CV) of SN-38 AUC0-500h of 391 (43.7%) versus 298 (75.3%) ng*h/mL, respectively. Conclusions: UGT1A1 genotype-guided dosing significantly reduces the incidence of febrile neutropenia in UGT1A1 PM patients treated with irinotecan. In addition, systemic drug exposure remained adequate, despite the 30% dose reduction. Therefore, UGT1A1 genotype-guided dosing of irinotecan should be considered standard of care in order to improve the individual patient safety. Clinical trial information: Trial NL6270 (NTR6612).

Influence of Genetic Variation in COMT on Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Cancer Patients

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used for multiple indications. Unfortunately, in a substantial set of patients treated with cisplatin, dose-limiting acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs. Here, we assessed the association of 3 catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with increased cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. In total, 551 patients were genotyped for the 1947 G>A (Val158Met, rs4680), c.615 + 310 C>T (rs4646316), and c.616–367 C>T (rs9332377) polymorphisms. Associations between these variants and AKI grade ≥3 were studied. The presence of a homozygous variant of c.616-367C>T was associated with a decreased occurrence of AKI grade 3 toxicity (p = 0.014, odds ratio (OR) 0.201, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.047–0.861)). However, we could not exclude the role of dehydration as a potential cause of AKI in 25 of the 27 patients with AKI grade 3, which potentially affected the results substantially. As a result of the low incidence of AKI grade 3 in this dataset, the lack of patients with a COMT variant, and the high number of patients with dehydration, the association between COMT variants and AKI does not seem clinically relevant.

Plasma Cell-Free DNA Testing of Patients With EGFR Mutant Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Droplet Digital PCR Versus Next-Generation Sequencing Compared With Tissue-Based Results

PURPOSE

To compare the results of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) on detection of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) primary activating mutations and p.T790M with results of tissue analysis in patients with EGFR mutated non–small-cell lung cancer.

METHODS

All patients with EGFR mutated non–small cell lung cancer for which a pathology and a plasma specimen were available upon progression between November 2016 and July 2018 were selected. Concordance, Cohen’s κ, and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated.

RESULTS

Plasma cfDNA and pathology specimens of 36 patients were analyzed. Agreement between ddPCR and NGS was 86% (κ = 0.63) for the primary activating mutation and 94% (κ = 0.89) for the p.T790M detection. Allele ratios were comparable, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.992 and 0.997, respectively. Discrepancies of some degree were found in 15 patients (41.7%). In six patients (16.7%), no mutations were detected in cfDNA. In three patients (8.3%), p.T790M was detected in plasma but not in the pathology specimen, whereas in three other patients (8.3%), p.T790M was demonstrated in the pathology specimen but not in plasma. Concordance of cfDNA and pathology for the primary activating mutation was 69% for ddPCR and 83% for NGS. For the detection of p.T790M, this was 75% (κ = 0.49) for ddPCR as well as for NGS.

CONCLUSION

Mutual agreement is high between NGS and ddPCR in cfDNA on the level of a specific mutation, with comparable ratio results. Plasma testing of EGFR primary activating mutations and p.T790M shows high concordance with pathology results, for NGS as well as for ddPCR, depending on the extent of the panel used. In NGS, more genetic aberrations can be investigated at once.

Prognostic Value of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Troponin-T, and Growth-Differentiation Factor 15 in Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

The number of patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is rapidly increasing. To optimize patient management, there is a great need to accurately identify high-risk patients. Still, no biomarker has been firmly established as a clinically useful prognostic tool in this group. We studied the association of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitive troponin-T, and growth-differentiation factor 15 with cardiovascular events in ACHD.

Methods:

Clinically stable patients with ACHD who routinely visited the outpatient clinic between April 2011 and April 2013 underwent clinical assessment, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and biomarker measurement (NT-proBNP, high-sensitive troponin-T, and growth-differentiation factor 15) at the time of study inclusion. Patients were prospectively followed for the occurrence of cardiovascular events (death, heart failure, hospitalization, arrhythmia, thromboembolic events, and reintervention). Survival curves were derived by the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression was performed to investigate the relation between biomarkers and events with adjustment for multiple clinical and echocardiographic variables.

Results:

In total, 595 patients were included (median age, 33 years; interquartile range, 25–41 years; 58% male; 90% New York Heart Association class I). Patients were followed during a median of 42 (interquartile range, 37–46) months. Of the 3 evaluated biomarkers, NT-proBNP in the upper quartile (>33.3 pmol/L) was most strongly associated with cardiovascular events (n=165, adjusted hazard ratio, 9.05 [3.24–25.3], P <0.001) and with death or heart failure (n=50, adjusted hazard ratio, 16.0 [2.04–126], P <0.001). When NT-proBNP was analyzed as a continuous variable, similar findings were retrieved. The cumulative proportion of patients with death and heart failure was only 1% in the lowest 2 NT-proBNP quartiles. Elevated NT-proBNP (>14 pmol/L), elevated high-sensitive troponin-T (>14 ng/L), and elevated growth-differentiation factor 15 (>1109 ng/L) identified those patients at highest risk of cardiovascular events (log-rank P <0.0001).

Conclusions:

NT-proBNP provides prognostic information beyond a conventional risk marker model in patients with ACHD and can reliably exclude the risk of death and heart failure. Elevated levels of NT-proBNP, high-sensitive troponin-T, and growth-differentiation factor 15 identify patients at highest risk of cardiovascular events. These biomarkers therefore may play an important role in the monitoring and management of patients with ACHD.

Elevated Plasma Cardiac Troponin T Levels Caused by Skeletal Muscle Damage in Pompe Disease

Background—

Elevated plasma cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels in patients with neuromuscular disorders may erroneously lead to the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction or myocardial injury.

Methods and Results—

In 122 patients with Pompe disease, the relationship between cTnT, cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase (CK), CK-myocardial band levels, and skeletal muscle damage was assessed. ECG and echocardiography were used to evaluate possible cardiac disease. Patients were divided into classic infantile, childhood-onset, and adult-onset patients. cTnT levels were elevated in 82% of patients (median 27 ng/L, normal values <14 ng/L). Cardiac troponin I levels were normal in all patients, whereas CK-myocardial band levels were increased in 59% of patients. cTnT levels correlated with CK levels in all 3 subgroups ( P <0.001). None of the abnormal ECGs recorded in 21 patients were indicative of acute myocardial infarction, and there were no differences in cTnT levels between patients with and without (n=90) abnormalities on ECG (median 28 ng/L in both groups). The median left ventricular mass index measured with echocardiography was normal in all the 3 subgroups. cTnT mRNA expression in skeletal muscle was not detectable in controls but was strongly induced in patients with Pompe disease. cTnT protein was identified by mass spectrometry in patient-derived skeletal muscle tissue.

Conclusions—

Elevated plasma cTnT levels in patients with Pompe disease are associated with skeletal muscle damage, rather than acute myocardial injury. Increased cTnT levels in Pompe disease and likely other neuromuscular disorders should be interpreted with caution to avoid unnecessary cardiac interventions.

A pharmacogenetic model predicting low paclitaxel clearance based on the DMET platform

2597

Background: Paclitaxel (PTX) is a commonly used cytotoxic agent. It is metabolized by P450 cytochrome iso-enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C8 and has high interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics (PK) and toxicity. Here, we present a genetic prediction model to identify patients with low PTX clearance (CL) using the new Drug-Metabolizing Enzyme and Transporter (DMET; Affymetrix) platform, capable of detecting 1,936 genetic variants (SNPs) in 225 genes. Methods: In a PK study, 270 Caucasian cancer patients were treated with PTX. PK parameters were determined using a limited sampling strategy. HPLC or LC-MS/MS were used to determine PTX plasma concentrations and non-linear mixed effects modelling (NONMEM) was used to estimate individual unbound CL from previously developed PK population models. Subsequently, the cohort of patients was randomly split into a training and validation set. In all patients, the presence of SNPs in metabolic enzymes and transporters was determined using the DMET platform. Selected SNPs were subsequently validated in the validation set. Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable in both sets. The mean CL of the total cohort was 488 ± 149 L/h and the threshold for low CL was set at 339 L/h (1 SD < total mean CL). 14 SNPs were selected to be included in the prediction model and validated in the validation set. For none of these 14 SNPs, evidence for a biological plausible link to taxane metabolism exists. The developed prediction model had a sensitivity of 95% to identify low PTX CL, a positive predictive value of 22% and remained significantly associated with low CL after multivariate analysis correcting for age, gender and Hb levels at start of therapy (P=0.024). Conclusions: This is the first considerably-sized application of the DMET platform to explain PK variability of a widely used anti-cancer drug. Although this validated prediction model for PTX CL had a high sensitivity, its positive predictive value is too low to be of direct clinical use. Likely, genetic variability in DMET genes alone does not sufficiently explain PTX CL, as for example environmental factors may also influence PTX metabolism.

Association analysis of polymorphisms in genes related to sunitinib pharmacokinetics

4580

Background: Sunitinib is approved as systemic therapy for mRCC, GIST and pNET. Interpatient variability in the pharmacokinetics (PK) of sunitinib is high, which may have serious consequences for efficacy and toxicity of the drug. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether polymorphisms in candidate genes involved in sunitinib metabolism are related to the PK of sunitinib and its active metabolite SU12662. Methods: In this multicenter study, steady state sunitinib plasma concentrations and genotypes were prospectively obtained from 115 patients. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in 8 genes encoding CYP1A1, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, ABCB1, ABCG2, NR1I2, NR1I3, and PORwere evaluated as covariates in a population pharmacokinetic model describing both sunitinib and SU12662 PK using NONMEM. First, candidate genotypes/haplotypes were individually tested for a potential association with sunitinib or SU12662 clearance. Next, potential significant SNPs (p<0.05) were simultaneously included in a multivariate model and tested by backward elimination with a significance threshold of p<0.0005. Results: Four out of 37 screened genotypes (from 14 different SNPs) were related to sunitinib clearance (CYP3A4*22 CC and CT, CYP3A5*3 GG, and ABCB1 (2677 TT)). CYP3A5*3 AG genotype was associated with clearance of SU12662. In the multivariate analysis, none of the SNPs reached the predefined significance threshold of p<0.0005. Nevertheless, CYP3A4*22T allele carriers showed a 22.5% decreased clearance of sunitinib (p<0.01). Conclusions: Our data suggest that individual SNPs or haplotypes in CYP1A1, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, ABCB1, ABCG2, NR1I2, NR1I3 and POR are not clearly associated with sunitinib or SU12662 clearance. Several (environmental) factors may also influence the PK of sunitinib. Interestingly, the recently identified CYP3A4*22 SNP potentially has an impact on drug exposure. Replication studies in larger groups of patients are needed to verify the role of CYP3A4*22 for sunitinib clearance.

CYP2D6 genotype related to tamoxifen efficacy: An analysis with exclusion of potential false CYP2D6 genotype assignment caused by loss of heterozygosity in tumor tissue

597

Background: The clinical importance of CYP2D6 genotype as predictor of tamoxifen efficacy is still unclear. Recent genotyping studies on CYP2D6 using DNA derived from tumor blocks have been criticized because loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in tumors may lead to false genotype assignment. Methods: Postmenopausal early breast cancer patients who were randomized to receive tamoxifen, followed by exemestane in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational trial (TEAM) were genotyped for 5 CYP2D6 variant alleles. CYP2D6 genotypes and phenotypes were related to disease free survival during tamoxifen use (DFS-t) in 731 patients. By analyzing three microsatellites flanking the CYP2D6 gene, patients whose genotyping results were potentially affected by LOH were excluded. Results: Analysis of the CYP2D6 alleles and the microsatellite markers demonstrated heterozygosity for at least one of the CYP2D6 alleles or microsatellite markers in 97.7% of patients with a specified CYP2D6 phenotype. The 14 patients (2.3%) with a homozygous CYP2D6 genotype in which no heterozygosity could be demonstrated for the microsatellite markers were excluded from the analysis. No association was found between the CYP2D6 genotype or predicted phenotype and DFS-t. Conclusions: In postmenopausal early breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen followed by exemestane neither CYP2D6 genotype nor phenotype was associated with DFS-t. This is in accordance with two recent studies in the BIG1-98 and ATAC trials. Our study is the first CYP2D6 association study using DNA from paraffin embedded tumor tissue in which potentially false interpretation of genotyping results because of LOH was excluded.

Dextromethorphan As a Phenotyping Test to Predict Endoxifen Exposure in Patients on Tamoxifen Treatment

Purpose

Tamoxifen, a widely used agent for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, is mainly metabolized by CYP2D6 and CYP3A to form its most abundant active metabolite, endoxifen. Interpatient variability in toxicity and efficacy of tamoxifen is substantial. Contradictory results on the value of CYP2D6 genotyping to reduce the variable efficacy have been reported. In this pharmacokinetic study, we investigated the value of dextromethorphan, a known probe drug for both CYP2D6 and CYP3A enzymatic activity, as a potential phenotyping probe for tamoxifen pharmacokinetics.

Methods

In this prospective study, 40 women using tamoxifen for invasive breast cancer received a single dose of dextromethorphan 2 hours after tamoxifen intake. Dextromethorphan, tamoxifen, and their respective metabolites were quantified. Exposure parameters of all compounds were estimated, log transformed, and subsequently correlated.

Results

A strong and highly significant correlation (r = −0.72; P < .001) was found between the exposures of dextromethorphan (0 to 6 hours) and endoxifen (0 to 24 hours). Also, the area under the plasma concentration–time curve of dextromethorphan (0 to 6 hours) and daily trough endoxifen concentration was strongly correlated (r = −0.70; P < .001). In a single patient using the potent CYP2D6 inhibitor paroxetine, the low endoxifen concentration was accurately predicted by dextromethorphan exposure.

Conclusion

Dextromethorphan exposure after a single administration adequately predicted endoxifen exposure in individual patients with breast cancer taking tamoxifen. This test could contribute to the personalization and optimization of tamoxifen treatment, but it needs additional validation and simplification before being applicable in future dosing strategies.

General maternal medication use, folic acid, the MDR1 C3435T polymorphism, and the risk of a child with a congenital heart defect

OBJECTIVE

We sought to investigate maternal and child functional MDR1 C3435T polymorphism, periconception medication, folic acid use, and the risk of a congenital heart defect (CHD) in the offspring.

STUDY DESIGN

MDR1 3435C>T genotyping was performed in 283 case triads (mother, father, child) and 308 control triads. Information on periconception medication and folic acid use was obtained through questionnaires.

RESULTS

Mothers with MDR1 3435CT/TT genotype and using medication showed a significant association with the risk of a child with CHD (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.3) compared to mothers with MDR1 3435CC genotype not using medication. This risk increased without folic acid use (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.2-6.4), and decreased in folic acid users (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.8-3.7). Children carrying the MDR1 3435CT/TT genotype and periconceptionally exposed to medication without folic acid did not show significant risks.

CONCLUSION

Mothers carrying the MDR1 3435T allele, using medication without folic acid, are at nearly 3-fold increased risk for CHD in the offspring.