[Personalized drug therapy based on genetics. Possibilities and examples from clinical practice]. / Personalisierte Arzneitherapie auf genetischer Grundlage. Möglichkeiten und Beispiele aus der Praxis.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacogenetics are an important component in the individualization of treatment; however, pharmacogenetic diagnostics have so far not been used to any great extent in clinical practice. A consistent consideration of individual patient factors, such as pharmacogenetics may help to improve drug therapy and increase individual safety and efficacy aspects. OBJECTIVE: A brief summary of structures and effects of genetic variations on drug efficacy is presented. Some frequently prescribed pharmaceuticals are specified. Furthermore, the feasibility of pharmacogenetic diagnostics and dose recommendations in the clinical practice are described. CURRENT DATA: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) as the European approval authority has already extended the drug labels of more than 70 pharmaceuticals by information on pharmacogenetic biomarkers and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more than 150. This is a crucial step towards targeted medicine. Guidelines on dose and therapy adjustments are provided by the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium of the Pharmacogenomics Research Network. CONCLUSION: It is fundamental to consider individual patient factors for successful drug therapy. Dose and therapy recommendations based on pharmacogenetic diagnostics are highly important for individualization as well as improvement of safety and efficiency of drug therapy.

Genetic variability of drug-metabolizing enzymes: the dual impact on psychiatric therapy and regulation of brain function.

Polymorphic drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) are responsible for the metabolism of the majority of psychotropic drugs. By explaining a large portion of variability in individual drug metabolism, pharmacogenetics offers a diagnostic tool in the burgeoning era of personalized medicine. This review updates existing evidence on the influence of pharmacogenetic variants on drug exposure and discusses the rationale for genetic testing in the clinical context. Dose adjustments based on pharmacogenetic knowledge are the first step to translate pharmacogenetics into clinical practice. However, also clinical factors, such as the consequences on toxicity and therapeutic failure, must be considered to provide clinical recommendations and assess the cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic treatment strategies. DME polymorphisms are relevant not only for clinical pharmacology and practice but also for research in psychiatry and neuroscience. Several DMEs, above all the cytochrome P (CYP) enzymes, are expressed in the brain, where they may contribute to the local biochemical homeostasis. Of particular interest is the possibility of DMEs playing a physiological role through their action on endogenous substrates, which may underlie the reported associations between genetic polymorphisms and cognitive function, personality and vulnerability to mental disorders. Neuroimaging studies have recently presented evidence of an effect of the CYP2D6 polymorphism on basic brain function. This review summarizes evidence on the effect of DME polymorphisms on brain function that adds to the well-known effects of DME polymorphisms on pharmacokinetics in explaining the range of phenotypes that are relevant to psychiatric practice.

[Personalised pharmacogenetics. Evidence-based guidelines and clinical application of pharmacogenetic diagnostics]. / Personalisierte Pharmakotherapie. Evidenzbasierte Leitlinien und klinische Anwendung pharmakogenetischer Diagnostik.

The broad clinical application of pharmacogenetic diagnostics for individualised drug treatment is still limited. With the exception of oncological therapies where molecular tumor makers are frequently used to decide upon individual drug therapies, pharmacogenetic testing is not generally offered in clinical laboratory diagnostics, because the costs are not covered by general health insurance and it is not evident what consequences the results of a genotyping test may have for the individual drug treatment. Especially in the context of pharmacokinetics, bioequivalence-based concepts have been developed that allow the individual drug dosage or therapy to be adjusted to genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolism, drug transport that affect drug absorption, metabolism and elimination. Pharmacogenetic aspects are increasingly included in the product information (e.g., on its website the FDA lists more than 60 drug labels that include pharmacogenetic information). However, most pharmacogenetic information on drug labels does not give recommendations for clinical decisions to be made based on individual genotypes. This gap is currently being closed by the development of international consortia aiming to base clinical recommendations on the best available evidence by systematic review of the existing data. The Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium of the Pharmacogenomics Research Network (CPIC) is an international community-driven organisation that is developing peer-reviewed, freely available gene/drug guidelines that are published in full at PharmGKB (http://www.pharmgkb.org). The aim of these guidelines is to give therapeutic recommendations such as dose adjustments or suggestions for the choice of an alternative drug in the case of specific genotypes (phenotypes) that predict slow metabolism or transport of drugs or safety risks or risks of therapeutic failure. These guidelines are not mandatory but serve to facilitate the translation of pharmacogenetic knowledge from bench to bedside.

The genetics of loop diuretic effects.

Little is known about the genetic impact on loop diuretic effects. We newly investigated five genetic polymorphisms in 95 healthy volunteers, who had ingested bumetanide, frusemide and torsemide. The subjects excreted means of 20.2 g sodium chloride, 2.87 g potassium and 261 mg calcium over 24 h. Concerning sodium chloride, the subjects excreted 2.2 g less per two T-alleles of C825T in the G nucleotide ß-subunit 3 (GNB3), 3.2 g less per two Met32-alleles of Val32Met in the atrial natriuretic peptide precursor (ANP) and 2.8 g more per two Arg152-alleles of Ter152Arg in ANP (P=0.007, 0.05 and 0.007). Concerning potassium, the subjects excreted 0.42 g more per two ANP Arg152-alleles (P=0.023). Concerning calcium, the subjects excreted 32 mg more per two deletion-alleles of the insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme, 44 mg more per two Trp460-alleles of Gly460Trp in α-adducin (ADD1) and 42 mg less per two GNB3 T-alleles (P=0.006, 0.023 and 0.008). The common genetic impact together with three polymorphisms in the sodium chloride cotransporter and the epithelial sodium channel was 20, 15, 10 and 23% of the variation in the urinary excretion of sodium chloride, volume, potassium and calcium. This exceeded the fraction of variation explained by differences in the pharmacokinetics: 13, 10, 11 and 6%. Thus, genetic variation seems to be a stronger predictor of the loop diuretic drug response than pharmacokinetic variation.

Effects of OCT1 polymorphisms on the cellular uptake, plasma concentrations and efficacy of the 5-HT(3) antagonists tropisetron and ondansetron.

After uptake into liver cells, the antiemetic drugs tropisetron and ondansetron undergo metabolic inactivation by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). We investigated whether the hepatic organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1; SLC22A1) mediates cellular uptake and whether common OCT1 loss-of-function polymorphisms affect pharmacokinetics and efficacy of both drugs. Both tropisetron and ondansetron inhibited ASP(+) uptake in OCT1-overexpressing HEK293 cells. Overexpression of wild-type, but not OCT1 loss-of-function variants, significantly increased tropisetron uptake. Correspondingly, patients with two loss-of-function OCT1 alleles had higher tropisetron plasma concentrations (n=59, P<0.04) and higher clinical efficacy (n=91, P=0.009) compared with carriers of fully active OCT1. Overexpression of OCT1 did not increase ondansetron uptake. Nevertheless, OCT1 genotypes correlated with pharmacokinetics (n=45, P<0.05) and clinical efficacy (n=222, P<0.02) of ondansetron, the effect size of OCT1 genotypes on pharmacokinetics and efficacy was greater for tropisetron than for ondansetron. In conclusion, in addition to the known effects of CYP2D6, OCT1 deficiency may increase efficacy of tropisetron and potentially of ondansetron by limiting their hepatic uptake.

Genetic polymorphisms of NAD(P)H oxidase: variation in subunit expression and enzyme activity.

Genetic polymorphisms in superoxide-producing NAD(P)H oxidase have been linked to cardiovascular diseases including anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. We quantified NAD(P)H oxidase activity in granulocytes of 81 healthy Caucasian volunteers (in addition, 51 in an independent confirmatory study) by chemiluminescence using the luminol analogue L-012. Expression of CYBA, NCF4 and RAC2 coding for NAD(P)H oxidase subunits was measured in whole blood cells in 59 study participants by real-time PCR. Of the five variants investigated (-930A>G, 242C>T, 640A>G in CYBA and the recently reported -368G>A in NCF4 and 7508T>A in RAC2), only CYBA 640A>G was consistently associated with superoxide production (640GG carriers 28% less than AA individuals, P=0.05 in each cohort, P=0.005 in combined analysis). RAC2 7508T>A was related to higher expression of RAC2 (P=0.02) and NCF4 (P=0.04). In summary, CYBA 640A>G rather than 242C>T was associated with reduced activity. The quantitatively moderate effect and the high intra-individual variability should be considered for further study design.

CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolism and morphine/codeine ratios in blood: was it codeine or heroin?

The concentration ratio of morphine (Mor) over codeine (Cod) in opiate positive blood samples is used to discriminate between the use of illegal heroin (high ratios) and therapeutic codeine (low ratios). However, genetically caused CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolism might lead to Mor/Cod comparable to heroin intake. A single oral dose of 30 mg codeine was administered to 11 CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers (UMs) and 12 extensive metabolizers (EMs). Codeine and its morphine metabolites and Mor/Cod were quantified in plasma and urine by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry within 24 h after codeine intake. The Mor/Cod in plasma were below 1 for both UMs and EMs during the first 12 h. After 12 h, 9% of the 11 UM and none of the 12 EM had ratios > 1. In urine, Mor/Cod ratios were below one for all EMs and UMs during the first 12 h. Thus, CYP2D6 genotyping in general will not explain Mor/Cod ratios > 1 in plasma or urine, unless the time of drug intake is more than 24 h previous.

Pharmacokinetics of mirtazapine: enantioselective effects of the CYP2D6 ultra rapid metabolizer genotype and correlation with adverse effects.

Enantiomerically pure drugs and genotyping are promising approaches to achieve optimization in antidepressant therapy. Mirtazapine is a mixed noradrenergic serotoninergic antidepressant used as a racemate. We analyzed pharmacokinetics of its enantiomers in relation to CYP2D6 genotype and in relation to its adverse effects. Mirtazapine was enantioselectively absorbed from the gut with a rate constant of 0.2 min-1 for S+, but 0.08 min-1 for R- mirtazapine. Kinetics of R- mirtazapine was only marginally dependent on CYP2D6 genotype, but total clearance of the S+ enantiomer were 1.3, 2.3, and 3.4 L min-1 in poor, extensive, and ultrarapid metabolizers of CYP2D6 substrates with apparent substantial first-pass metabolism in rapid and ultrarapid metabolizers. Mirtazapine effects on heart rate and blood pressure correlated much more strongly with R- then with S+ concentrations, whereas sedation correlated similarly with both enantiomers. At least concerning some adverse effects, it might be worthwhile to study further mirtazapine enantiospecifically.

Genetic variation in the renal sodium transporters NKCC2, NCC, and ENaC in relation to the effects of loop diuretic drugs.

There is little data on genetic predictors of loop diuretic efficacy in humans. Therefore, we investigated the diuretic effects of single oral doses of bumetanide, frusemide, and torsemide in a crossover study in 97 healthy Caucasians in relation to genetic variation in the renal sodium transporters NKCC2 (coded by SLC12A1), NCC (SLC12A3), and ENaC (three subunits coded by SCNN1A, SCNN1B, and SCNN1G). The NCC alanine 264 allele (Gly264Ala) and the most frequent SCNN1B haplotype were associated with stronger diuresis, indicating lower reabsorbing function of these alleles. The variant alleles of the tightly coupled polymorphisms rs5723 (Leu649Leu) and rs5729 in SCNN1G were associated with weaker diuresis, indicating higher activity. Extended haplotype homozygosity implied evolutionary selection of the NCC alanine 264 allele. In conclusion, acute diuretic effects of loop diuretics were affected by genetic variation in sodium transporters that, in the nephron, are located distally from NKCC2.

Genotype and phenotype relationship in drug metabolism.

Pharmacogenetics, one of the fields of clinical pharmacology, studies how genetic factors influence drug response. If hereditary traits are taken into account appropriately before starting drug treatment, the type of drug and its dosage can be tailored to the individual patient's needs. Today, the relationships between dosage requirements and genetic variations in drug-metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 or in drug transporters such as p-glycoprotein (ABCB1) and OATP-C (SLC21A6) are substantiated best. A standard dose will bring about more adverse effects than usual if enzymatic activity is lacking or feeble. Sometimes, however, therapeutic response might be better because of higher concentrations: proton pump inhibitors for eradication of Helicobacter pylori are more efficacious in carriers of a deficient CYP2C19 variant. In some cases, genetic tests can help distinguish between responders and nonresponders of a specific drug treatment, and genotype-based dosage is possible.

Pharmacogenomic aspects of bipolar disorder: An update.

The hopes for readily implementable precision medicine are high. For many complex disorders, such as bipolar disorder, these hopes critically hinge on tangible successes in pharmacogenetics of treatment response or susceptibility to adverse events. In this article, we review the current state of pharmacogenomics of bipolar disorder including latest results from candidate genes and genome-wide association studies. The majority of studies focus on response to lithium treatment. Although a host of genes has been studied, hardly any replicated findings have emerged so far. Very small samples sizes and heterogeneous phenotype definition may be considered the major impediments to success in this field. Drawing from current experiences and successes in studies on diagnostic psychiatric phenotypes, we suggest several approaches for our way forward.

Low intensity transcranial electric stimulation: Safety, ethical, legal regulatory and application guidelines.

Low intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) in humans, encompassing transcranial direct current (tDCS), transcutaneous spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS), transcranial alternating current (tACS), and transcranial random noise (tRNS) stimulation or their combinations, appears to be safe. No serious adverse events (SAEs) have been reported so far in over 18,000 sessions administered to healthy subjects, neurological and psychiatric patients, as summarized here. Moderate adverse events (AEs), as defined by the necessity to intervene, are rare, and include skin burns with tDCS due to suboptimal electrode-skin contact. Very rarely mania or hypomania was induced in patients with depression (11 documented cases), yet a causal relationship is difficult to prove because of the low incidence rate and limited numbers of subjects in controlled trials. Mild AEs (MAEs) include headache and fatigue following stimulation as well as prickling and burning sensations occurring during tDCS at peak-to-baseline intensities of 1-2mA and during tACS at higher peak-to-peak intensities above 2mA. The prevalence of published AEs is different in studies specifically assessing AEs vs. those not assessing them, being higher in the former. AEs are frequently reported by individuals receiving placebo stimulation. The profile of AEs in terms of frequency, magnitude and type is comparable in healthy and clinical populations, and this is also the case for more vulnerable populations, such as children, elderly persons, or pregnant women. Combined interventions (e.g., co-application of drugs, electrophysiological measurements, neuroimaging) were not associated with further safety issues. Safety is established for low-intensity 'conventional' TES defined as <4mA, up to 60min duration per day. Animal studies and modeling evidence indicate that brain injury could occur at predicted current densities in the brain of 6.3-13A/m2 that are over an order of magnitude above those produced by tDCS in humans. Using AC stimulation fewer AEs were reported compared to DC. In specific paradigms with amplitudes of up to 10mA, frequencies in the kHz range appear to be safe. In this paper we provide structured interviews and recommend their use in future controlled studies, in particular when trying to extend the parameters applied. We also discuss recent regulatory issues, reporting practices and ethical issues. These recommendations achieved consensus in a meeting, which took place in Göttingen, Germany, on September 6-7, 2016 and were refined thereafter by email correspondence.

Association of NAT1 and NAT2 polymorphisms to urinary bladder cancer: significantly reduced risk in subjects with NAT1*10.

The role of hereditary polymorphisms of the arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) gene in the etiology of urinary bladder cancer is controversial. NAT1 is expressed in the urothelium and may O-acetylate hydroxyl amines, particularly in subjects with low NAT2 activity. Thus, NAT1 polymorphisms may affect the individual bladder cancer risk by interacting with environmental factors (smoking and occupational risks) and by interacting with the NAT2 gene. We studied the frequencies of the NAT1 haplotypes *3, *4, *10, *11, *14, *15, *17, and *22 in 425 German bladder cancer patients and 343 controls by PCR-RFLP. NAT1*10 allelic frequency was lower in bladder cancer patients (15.1%) compared with controls (20.4%; P = 0.012). Genotypes that included NAT1*10 were significantly less frequent among the cases (odds ratio adjusted for age, gender, and smoking, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.91; P = 0.013). Two subtypes of NAT1*11 were detected: *11A (-344T, -40T, 445A, 459A, 640G, and 1095A) and *11C (-344T, -40T, 459A, 640G, and 1095A). The allele frequency of NAT1*11 was 4.3% in the cases versus 3.9% in the controls. The rare low-active NAT1*14A was overrepresented in the cases (P = 0.026). With regard to the NAT2 genotype, our data showed: (a) a partial linkage of NAT1*10 to NAT2*4; (b) a clear underrepresentation of NAT1*10 genotypes among rapid NAT2 genotypes in the cases studied (odds ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.68; P = 0.001), and (c) a gene-gene-environment interaction. NAT2*slow/NAT1*4 genotype combinations with a history of occupational exposure were 5.96 (2.96-12.0) times more frequent in cancer cases than in controls without risk occupation (P < 0.0001). Hence, our data suggest that individuals provided with NAT2*4 and NAT1*10 are at a significantly lower risk for bladder cancer, particularly when exposed to environmental risk factors.

A C4887A polymorphism in exon 7 of human CYP1A1: population frequency, mutation linkages, and impact on lung cancer susceptibility.

This study reports a C-->A transversion at position 4887 in exon 7 of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), resulting in a threonine-asparagine exchange in codon 461. The polymorphism is located directly beside the known codon 462-Ile/Val mutation (m2) near the heme binding region. The C4887A mutation leads to the loss of a BsaI cleavage site, which allows analysis. No linkage of this mutation, termed m4, with other mutations such as m1 (MspI polymorphism in the 3'-flanking region) or m2 was observed on the same DNA strand. Systematic molecular genetic analyses of mutation linkages revealed that mutation m2 is in strict linkage disequilibrium with m1. To distinguish the different CYP1A1 alleles and genotypes, mutation linkages were considered. Frequency of the m4-containing allele, termed CYP1A1*4, among 880 unrelated Caucasian individuals was 2.95% (95% confidence limits, 2.21%, 3.86%). m1 was found in 7.73%, and m2 in 2.67% of alleles. No case of African black-specific mutation m3 was detected. The allele frequency of CYP1A1*4 among 157 lung cancer patients was 2.87% (95% confidence limits, 1.32%, 5.37%); it was 2.87% (95% confidence limits, 1.71%, 4.49%) in 314 controls matched by age and sex. Thus, the novel m4-mutation may not represent a susceptibility factor for lung cancer.

Combined analysis of inherited polymorphisms in arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2, glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1, microsomal epoxide hydrolase, and cytochrome P450 enzymes as modulators of bladder cancer risk.

Foreign compound-metabolizing enzymes may modify the risk of chemically induced cancer. We wanted to examine enzymes with putative relevance in urinary bladder cancer using molecular genetic analyses of heritably polymorphic enzymes. Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT2); glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) M1 and T1; microsomal epoxide hydrolase; and cytochrome P-450 enzymes (CYP) 1A1, 2C19, 2D6, and 2E1 were analyzed in 374 cases and in 373 controls in a hospital-based case-control study in Berlin. Slow acetylation was a significant risk factor in heavy smokers [odds ratio (OR), 2.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-7.4], with the greatest risk noted for the allele NAT2*5B. GSTM1 deficiency was a risk factor independent of smoking and occupation (OR, 1.6; CI, 1.2-2.2). GSTT1 was associated with cancer risk in the nonsmoker subgroup (OR, 2.6; CI, 1.1-6.0). The two amino acid polymorphisms that are known in microsomal epoxide hydrolase were not associated with bladder cancer risk. CYP2D6 activity was rejected as a risk factor by phenotyping and by detailed molecular genetic analyses. CYP2C19 may have a role in bladder cancer risk, but polymorphisms in CYP1A1 and 2E1 had no statistically significant impact. Deficiencies in both NAT2 and GSTM1 failed to show significant synergistic or antagonistic interactions. In conclusion, molecular genetic analysis of a large sample specified the increased bladder cancer risk of those who are deficient in NAT2 and GSTM1; the other traits proved to be of minor impact.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and its variants A and B as host factors of bladder cancer susceptibility: a case-control study.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) is a foreign compound-metabolizing enzyme with a heritable complete lack of activity in about 50% of Caucasians. GSTM1 deficiency may predispose individuals to urinary bladder cancer. Thus, a hospital-based case-control study was performed with 296 patients with bladder cancer and 400 controls, investigating this GSTM1 deficiency in relation to environmental risk factors and types of bladder cancer. Frequencies of the GSTM1 gene deletion (genotype, GSTM1*0/0) and of the allele variants A (mu) and B (psi) of the GSTM1-active trait were determined using an internal standard-controlled polymerase chain reaction technique. Moreover, in all patients GSTM1 expression was quantified in blood by an immunoassay. Of the cases, 59.1% had the GSTM1*0/0 genotype, in contrast to 50.7% of the controls (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence limits, 1.02-1.92; P = 0.017). The odds ratio after adjustment for age and gender by logistic regression analysis was 1.54 (95% confidence limits, 1.12-2.13). Occupational risk was defined as previous employment in occupations with known increased bladder cancer risk, but the impact of GSTM1*0/0 was not significantly different in individuals with risk jobs versus those without. The greater proportion of the GSTM1-deficient individuals in the group with cancer was due to a lower frequency of carriers of GSTM1A. The odds ratio for the subgroup of individuals with the GSTM1B phenotype versus carriers of the GSTM1A phenotype in cases versus controls was 1.65 (95% confidence limits, 0.976-2.78; two-tailed Fisher's exact P = 0.057). Analysis of functional GSTM1 activity in a subset of 370 blood samples with the model substrate trans-stilbene oxide confirmed the genetic results and showed that 9 of 10 individuals with mu/psi heterodimers (genotype, GSTM1*A/B) had activities above the median of all genetically GSTM1-active individuals (24 pmol/min/1 x 10(6) lymphocytes; P < 0.01), indicating a gene dose relationship for GSTM1. GSTM1 expression in the urinary bladder endothelium detected by immunoassay and immunohistology corresponded to the genotype of the patients. It may be concluded from this study that the heritable GSTM1 deficiency is responsible for 17% (etiological fraction; 95% confidence limits, 2-30%) of bladder cancer cases.

Genotype and phenotype of glutathione S-transferase class mu isoenzymes mu and psi in lung cancer patients and controls.

Glutathione S-transferase class mu (GSTM1) is known to detoxify certain carcinogens or their activated metabolites. In a previous study using phenotyping methods, individuals genetically devoid of this enzyme activity were significantly overrepresented among lung cancer patients compared to controls, suggesting that this trait is a risk factor for lung cancer. Here, GST class mu status has been determined both pheno- and genotypically, i.e., (a) by ex vivo measurement of trans-stilbene oxide conjugation in lymphocytes, (b) by GSTM1 quantification in blood using an immunoassay, and (c) by the application of polymerase chain reaction to genomic DNA with characterization of an inactivating mutation responsible for the null allele and a G/C single base allelic variance corresponding to the polymorphism of GSTM1 isoenzymes mu and psi, respectively. One hundred seventeen lung cancer patients and 155 control patients were studied. The two groups were of German origin and were similar with respect to age, sex, smoking history, and catchment area. In about 97% of cases, the three methods of assigning activity type of GSTM1 gave corresponding results. By genotype, 55 of 117 lung cancer patients (47.0%) and 73 of 155 control patients (47.1%) were GSTM1 active. The control group was confirmed by analysis of GSTM1 genotype in 200 further, independently studied reference patients; 101 of them were GSTM1 active (50.5%). Thus, the hypothesis of heritable GSTM1 deficiency as a host factor predisposing to lung cancer proved inappropriate. Detailed analysis of subgroups with respect to smoking habits, age, and sex failed to reveal an impact of GST class mu genotype on lung cancer risk. Among the total of 272 patients studied, 36 individuals carried at least one psi allele; however, no unexpected frequency distribution was observed.

Substantially reduced risk of cancer of the aerodigestive tract in subjects with variant--463A of the myeloperoxidase gene.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme that is highly expressed in neutrophil leukocytes, transforms precarcinogens such as benzo(a)pyrene and aromatic amines to highly reactive intermediates. A G/A polymorphism located 463 bp upstream of exon 1 in the promoter region strongly reduces MPO mRNA expression. In a matched case-control study, 196 lung cancer, 245 laryngeal cancer, and 255 pharyngeal cancer patients from the Berlin area were investigated for frequency of the G-463A polymorphism by PCR/RFLP, using AciI. They were matched by age and gender to hospital patients without known malignancies. Moreover, 270 healthy volunteers were genotyped, obtaining 61.1% of individuals with MPO genotype -463G/G, 34.8% of individuals with genotype G/A, and 4.1% of individuals with genotype A/A. In lung and laryngeal cancer patients, but not in pharyngeal cancer patients, mutant genotypes were significantly less frequent. Crude odds ratios for carriers of one or two A alleles, compared to wild-type G/G, were 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38-0.88; P = 0.011] for lung cancer patients, 0.63 (95% CI, 0.43-0.92; P = 0.017) for laryngeal cancer patients, and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.57-1.17; P = 0.27) for pharyngeal cancer patients. The relative risks, adjusted for age, gender, and extent of cigarette smoking were 0.47 (95% CI, 0.28-0.79; P = 0.004), 0.66 (95% CI, 0.44-1.01; P = 0.054), and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.51-1.12; P = 0.16) for lung, larynx, and pharyngeal cancer, respectively. Strikingly, relative risk for carriers of -463A among adenocarcinoma of the lung was 0.24 (95% CI, 0.10-0.58; P = 0.002). Two cases with larynx cancer, one case with lung cancer, and one reference subject displayed novel G/A mutations at -297 nucleotide and -296 nucleotide, destroying a constitutive AciI cleavage site. Our data finally suggest that the MPO -463A variant is a protective factor in the etiology of lung and larynx cancer, but possibly not of pharyngeal cancer.

Homozygous rapid arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) genotype as a susceptibility factor for lung cancer.

The polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) is supposed to be a susceptibility factor for certain malignancies. A phenotyping study in 389 lung cancer patients revealed a similar distribution of rapid and slow acetylators by the caffeine test to that in 657 reference subjects (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence limits, 0.81, 1.36; not significant). A separate group of 155 lung cancer patients was studied by genotyping NAT2 and was compared with a matched reference group of 310 unrelated patients and with 278 healthy volunteers. The NAT2 genotype was characterized by PCR-RFLP at nucleotide positions 191, 282, 341, 481, 590, 803, and 857. For evaluation of nucleotide 341, a 3'-mismatch primer was used. Homozygous wild-type genotypes NAT2*4/*4 were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Genotypes for rapid acetylation amounted to 43.9% among lung cancer and 41.6% among reference patients (odds ratio, 1.10 95% confidence limits, 0.73, 1.65; not significant). Discrimination into homozygous and heterozygous carriers of allele NAT2*4 revealed a distinct over-representation of NAT2*4/*4 genotypes amid lung cancer patients (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence limits, 1.05, 5.32; P = 0.018). Logistic regression analysis considering sex, age, and smoking provided an odds ratio of 3.04 (95% confidence limits, 1.37, 6.75; P = 0.003). Hence, carriers of the NAT2*4/*4 genotype, with its especially high acetylation capacity, are at significantly increased risk to lung cancer.

OCT1 mediates hepatic uptake of sumatriptan and loss-of-function OCT1 polymorphisms affect sumatriptan pharmacokinetics.

The low bioavailability of the anti-migraine drug sumatriptan is partially caused by first-pass hepatic metabolism. In this study, we analyzed the impact of the hepatic organic cation transporter OCT1 on sumatriptan cellular uptake, and of OCT1 polymorphisms on sumatriptan pharmacokinetics. OCT1 transported sumatriptan with high capacity and sumatriptan uptake into human hepatocytes was strongly inhibited by the OCT1 inhibitor MPP(+) . Sumatriptan uptake was not affected by the Met420del polymorphism, but was strongly reduced by Arg61Cys and Gly401Ser, and completely abolished by Gly465Arg and Cys88Arg. Plasma concentrations in humans with two deficient OCT1 alleles were 215% of those with fully active OCT1 (P = 0.0003). OCT1 also transported naratriptan, rizatriptan, and zolmitriptan, suggesting a possible impact of OCT1 polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of other triptans as well. In conclusion, OCT1 is a high-capacity transporter of sumatriptan and polymorphisms causing OCT1 deficiency have similar effects on sumatriptan pharmacokinetics as those observed in subjects with liver impairment.