The metabolism of docetaxel by human liver microsomes was investigated in vitro and compared with that of paclitaxel. A main docetaxel metabolite was generated by human liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH: retention time in high pressure liquid chromatography and its ion fragmentation in mass spectrometry were identical to those of the authentic derivative hydroxylated at the butyl group of the C13 side chain. Kinetic measurements and chemical and immunological inhibitions demonstrated that CYP3A was implicated in the hydroxylation of docetaxel: Km (2 μm) and Vm values of docetaxel for human liver microsomes were comparable to those calculated for the formation of metabolite p-hydroxyphenyl C3′ paclitaxel (M4). Docetaxel hydroxylation correlated only with the CYP3A content of microsomes and with CYP3A-dependent 6β-hydroxylation of testosterone and 16-hydroxylation of dehydroepiandrosterone. The formation of hydroxydocetaxel was strongly reduced by CYP3A inhibitors such as ketoconazole, midazolam, erythromycin, testosterone, orphenadrine, and troleandomycin, whereas quinidine (CYP2D6), hexobarbital, tolbutamide, and mephenytoin (CYP2C) had no or little effect.

The hydroxylation of docetaxel exhibited a highly positive correlation with the formation of metabolite M4 of paclitaxel (r = 0.929, P < 0.0001, n = 12), but not with its 6-hydroxylation (r = 0.48, P > 0.15). Docetaxel abolished the hydroxylation of paclitaxel metabolite M4, but was totally inactive on its 6α-hydroxylation. Conversely, paclitaxel reduced significantly the hydroxylation of docetaxel. We examined in vitro the possible interaction among docetaxel, paclitaxel, and drugs which could be associated during chemotherapy. Cisplatin, verapamil, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and vincristine at concentrations usually recommended did not markedly modify taxoid metabolism. Ranitidine and diphenylhydramine had no effect, but 100 μm cimetidine partially inhibited the formation of 6α-hydroxypaclitaxel.

Pretreatment of patients with barbiturates strikingly stimulated docetaxel hydroxylation, whereas no acceleration of docetaxel hydroxylation was noticed in a patient receiving steroids.

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This work was supported by a grant from l'Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (B. M., M. W.), la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (T. C.), Rhône Poulenc Santé (B. M., T. C., M. W.), and the Conseil Régional Midi-Pyrénées (B. M.).

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©1996 American Association for Cancer Research.
1996
Cancer Research, Inc.