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Potential Beneficial Metabolic Interactions Between Tamoxifen and Isoflavones via Cytochrome P450-mediated Pathways in Female Rat Liver Microsomes

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Abstract

Purpose. This study aims to evaluate a cytochrome P450-based tamoxifen-isoflavone interaction and to determine the mechanisms responsible for inhibitory effects of isoflavones (e.g., genistein) on the formation of α-hydroxytamoxifen.

Methods. Metabolism studies were performed in vitro using female rat liver microsomes. The effects of genistein and an isoflavone mixture on tamoxifen metabolism and the inhibition mechanism were determined using standard kinetic analysis, preincubation, and selective chemical inhibitors of P450.

Results. Metabolism of tamoxifen was saturable with K m values of 4.9 ± 0.6, 14.6 ± 2.2, 25 ± 5.9 μM and V max values of 34.7 ± 1.4, 297.5 ± 19.2, 1867 ± 231 pmol min−1 mg−1 for α-hydroxylation, N-desmethylation, and N-oxidation, respectively. Genistein (25 μM) inhibited α-hydroxylation at 2.5 μM tamoxifen by 64% (p < 0.001) but did not affect the 4-hydroxylation, N-desmethylation, and N-oxidation. A combination of three (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) to five isoflavones (plus biochanin A and formononetin) inhibited tamoxifen α-hydroxylation to a greater extent but did not decrease the formation of identified metabolites. The inhibition on α-hydroxylation by genistein was mixed-typed with a K i , value of 10.6 μM. Studies using selective chemical inhibitors showed that tamoxifen α-hydroxylation was mainly mediated by rat CYP1A2 and CYP3A1/2 and that genistein 3`-hydroxylation was mainly mediated by rat CYP1A2, CYP2C6 and CYP2D1.

Conclusions. Genistein and its isoflavone analogs have the potential to decrease side effects of tamoxifen through metabolic interactions that inhibit the formation of α-hydroxytamoxifen via inhibition of CYP1A2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164, USA

    Jun Chen & Ming Hu

  2. Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164, USA

    Steven C. Halls, Joshua F. Alfaro & Zhaohui Zhou

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Chen, J., Halls, S.C., Alfaro, J.F. et al. Potential Beneficial Metabolic Interactions Between Tamoxifen and Isoflavones via Cytochrome P450-mediated Pathways in Female Rat Liver Microsomes. Pharm Res 21, 2095–2104 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PHAM.0000048202.92930.61

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