title: Pharmacogenomics of tamoxifen therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tamoxifen is a standard endocrine therapy for the prevention and treatment of steroid hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Tamoxifen requires enzymatic activation by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes for the formation of active metabolites 4-hydroxytamoxifen and endoxifen. As compared with the parent drug, both metabolites have an approximately 100-fold greater affinity for the estrogen receptor and the ability to inhibit cell proliferation. The polymorphic CYP2D6 is the key enzyme in this biotransformation, and recent mechanistic, pharmacologic, and clinical evidence suggests that genetic variants and drug interaction by CYP2D6 inhibitors influence the plasma concentrations of active tamoxifen metabolites and the outcomes of tamoxifen-treated patients. In particular, nonfunctional (poor metabolizer) and severely impaired (intermediate metabolizer) CYP2D6 alleles are associated with higher recurrence rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accordingly, CYP2D6 (cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily D, polypeptide 6) genotyping before treatment to predict metabolizer status may open new avenues for individualizing endocrine treatment, with the maximum benefit being expected for extensive metabolizers. Moreover, strong CYP2D6 inhibitors such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors paroxetine and fluoxetine, which are used to treat hot flashes, should be avoided because they severely impair formation of the active metabolites.
authors: Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Hiltrud
authors: H
authors: Brauch
authors: Thomas E
authors: TE
authors: Mürdter
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Eichelbaum
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Schwab
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D065702:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6; D065731:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19; D065729:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen; C450260:CYP2C9 protein, human; D065729:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C585599:CYP2B6 protein, human; C045793:CYP2C19 protein, human; D065702:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6; D065731:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating