Lack of effect of aprepitant on the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel in cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Aprepitant is a selective neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist that is effective for the prevention of nausea and vomiting caused by highly emetogenic chemotherapy. In vitro, aprepitant is a moderate inhibitor of the CYP3A4 enzyme, which is involved in the clearance of several chemotherapeutic agents. In this study we examined the potential for aprepitant to affect the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of intravenously administered docetaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent that is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4.


METHODS
A total of 11 cancer patients (4 male, 7 female, aged 50-68 years) were enrolled in this multicenter, randomized, open-label, two-period, crossover study. Patients received a single infusion of docetaxel monotherapy, 60-100 mg/m(2), on two occasions at least 3 weeks apart. During one of the cycles (treatment A), patients received docetaxel alone. During the alternate cycle (treatment B), they also received aprepitant 125 mg orally 1 h prior to docetaxel infusion (day 1), and a single oral dose of aprepitant 80 mg on days 2 and 3. The pharmacokinetic profile of docetaxel was assessed over 30 h following docetaxel infusion. Blood counts were monitored on days 1, 4, 7, and 14.


RESULTS
Ten patients completed the study. Concomitant administration of aprepitant did not cause any statistically or clinically significant changes in docetaxel pharmacokinetics. Values for docetaxel alone (treatment A) versus docetaxel with aprepitant (treatment B) were as follows: geometric mean AUC(0-last) was 3.26 vs 3.17 microg h/ml (P>0.25; ratio B/A 0.97); geometric mean AUC(0-infinity) 3.51 vs 3.39 microg h/ml (P>0.25; ratio B/A 0.96); geometric mean C(max) was 3.53 vs 3.37 microg/ml (P>0.25; ratio B/A 0.95); and geometric mean plasma clearance was 23.3 vs 24.2 l/h/m(2) (P>0.25; ratio B/A 1.04). The corresponding harmonic mean half-life values were 10.1 and 8.5 h. The two treatment regimens had similar tolerability profiles; the median absolute neutrophil count nadirs were 681/mm(3) during treatment with docetaxel alone and 975/mm(3) during aprepitant coadministration.


CONCLUSIONS
Aprepitant had no clinically significant effect on either the pharmacokinetics or toxicity of standard doses of docetaxel in cancer patients. Aprepitant at clinically recommended doses may have a low potential to affect the pharmacokinetics of intravenous chemotherapeutic agents metabolized by CYP3A4.
Nygren
Peter
P
Department of Oncology, Radiology, and Clinical Immunology, Uppsala University Hosipital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Hande
Kenneth
K
Petty
Kevin J
KJ
Fedgchin
Margaret
M
van Dyck
Kristien
K
Majumdar
Anup
A
Panebianco
Debbie
D
de Smet
Marina
M
Ahmed
Tuli
T
Murphy
M Gail
MG
Gottesdiener
Keith M
KM
Cocquyt
Veronique
V
van Belle
Simon
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077608:Aprepitant; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000932:Antiemetics; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009025:Morpholines; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000077608:Aprepitant