P-glycoprotein (MDR1/ABCB1) Restricts Brain Penetration of the Main Active Heroin Metabolites 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and Morphine in Mice.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Heroin (diacetylmorphine; diamorphine) is a highly addictive opioid prodrug. Heroin prescription is possible in some countries for chronic, treatment-refractory opioid-dependent patients and as a potent analgesic for specific indications. We aimed to study the pharmacokinetic interactions of heroin and its main pharmacodynamically active metabolites, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and morphine, with the multidrug efflux transporters P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 and BCRP/ABCG2 using wild-type, Abcb1a/1b and Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2 knockout mice. METHODS & RESULTS: Upon subcutaneous (s.c.) heroin administration, its blood levels decreased quickly, making it challenging to detect heroin even shortly after dosing. 6-MAM was the predominant active metabolite present in blood and most tissues. At 10 and 30 min after heroin administration, 6-MAM and morphine brain accumulation were increased about 2-fold when mouse (m)Abcb1a/1b and mAbcg2 were ablated. Fifteen minutes after direct s.c. administration of an equimolar dose of 6-MAM, we observed good intrinsic brain penetration of 6-MAM in wild-type mice. Still, mAbcb1 limited brain accumulation of 6-MAM and morphine without affecting their blood exposure, and possibly mediated their direct intestinal excretion. A minor contribution of mAbcg2 to these effects could not be excluded. CONCLUSIONS: We show that mAbcb1a/1b can limit 6-MAM and morphine brain exposure. Pharmacodynamic behavioral/postural observations, while non-quantitative, supported moderately increased brain levels of 6-MAM and morphine in the knockout mouse strains. Variation in ABCB1 activity due to genetic polymorphisms or environmental factors (e.g., drug interactions) might affect 6-MAM/morphine exposure in individuals, but only to a limited extent.

An excretion balance and pharmacokinetic study of the novel anticancer agent E7070 in cancer patients.

E7070 is a novel sulfonamide anticancer agent that arrests the G /S phase of the cell cycle. Preclinical and phase I studies have demonstrated non-linear pharmacokinetics of the drug. The objective of this study was to quantify the excretion of E7070 and the metabolite 1,4-benzene-sulfonamide (M1) in cancer patients. E7070 (1,000 mg) radiolabeled by (14)C in the benzene disulfonamide moiety (cohort 1, n = 6) or in the indole moiety (cohort 2, n = 7) was i.v. infused over 1 h. The levels of radioactivity in plasma, red blood cells, urine and feces were determined by liquid scintillation counting, and the E7070 and M1 concentrations in plasma, urine and feces were determined by coupled liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). In plasma, the mean area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) based on radio-activity measurements (32.5 and 28.9 h. mM in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively) was substantially higher than the mean AUC of E7070 (3.8 h x mmol/l) and M1 (0.1 h x mmol/l) in all patients. The excretion of radioactivity (mean +/- SD) as a percentage of administered radioactivity was higher in urine [63.7 +/- 9.8% (cohort 1) and 61.5 +/- 5.5% (cohort 2)] than in feces [22.7 +/- 2.6% (1) and 21.1 +/- 3.1% (2)] during a mean collection period of 11 days. In both cohorts, the contribution of urinary and fecal recovery of E7070 (2.3 and 2.7%, respectively) and M1 (5.3 and 5.1%, respectively) was low. Subsequent HPLC analysis with online radioisotope detection of urine showed that the high radioactivity levels are caused by compounds other than E7070 and M1. The major metabolite is formed by glucuronidation of a hydroxylated metabolite of E7070. In conclusion, the excretion of the benzene sulfonamide and the indole moieties of E7070 was the same with a higher renal than gastrointestinal excretion. E7070 is extensively converted into currently unidentified metabolites. Glucuronidation is a major metabolic pathway.

Quantitative determination of the novel anticancer drug E7070 (indisulam) and its metabolite (1,4-benzenedisulphonamide) in human plasma, urine and faeces by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

E7070 (indisulam) is a novel anticancer drug currently undergoing clinical investigation. We present a sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of E7070 and its metabolite M1 (1,4-benzenedisulphonamide) in human plasma, urine and faeces. The analytes and their tetra-deuterated analogues, which were used as internal standards, were isolated from the biological matrix by solid-phase extraction with OASIS cartridges (0.5 mL plasma or 1 mL urine) and by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate at pH 5 (1 mL faecal homogenate). The analytes were separated on a C8 reversed-phase chromatographic column and analyzed using electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometric detection in the negative ion mode. The validated concentration ranges in plasma were 0.1-20 microg/mL for E7070 and 0.01-2 microg/mL for M1. In urine and faecal homogenate, a concentration range from 0.05-10 microg/mL or microg/g, respectively, was validated for both analytes. Validation of the plasma assay was performed according to the most recent FDA guidelines. The assay fulfilled all generally accepted requirements for linearity (r > 0.99, residuals between -8 and 10%), accuracy (-13.5 to 1.4%) and precision (all less than 11%) in the tested matrices. We investigated recovery, stability (working solutions at -20 degrees C and at room temperature, biological matrices at -20 degrees C, room temperature and after 3 freeze/thaw cycles; final extracts at room temperature) and robustness. All these parameters were found acceptable. This method is suited for mass balance studies or therapeutic drug monitoring, as demonstrated by a case example showing plasma concentrations and cumulative excretion of E7070 and M1 in urine and faeces. Furthermore, we show the presence of E7070 metabolites in patient urine.

Quantitative analysis of D-24851, a novel anticancer agent, in human plasma and urine by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

The development of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric assay for the quantitative analysis of the novel tubulin inhibitor D-24851 in human plasma and urine is described. D-24851 and the deuterated internal standard were extracted from 250 microL of plasma or urine using hexane/ether (1:1, v/v). Subsequently, 10-microL aliquots of reconstituted extracts were injected onto an Inertsil ODS analytical column (50 x 2.0 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size). An eluent consisting of methanol/5 mM ammonium acetate, 0.004% formic acid in water (80:20, v/v) was pumped at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. An API 365 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used in the multiple reaction monitoring mode for sensitive detection. For human plasma a dynamic range of 1-1000 ng/mL was validated, and for human urine a range of 0.25-50 ng/mL. Validation was performed according to the most recent FDA guidelines and all results were within requirements. The assay has been successfully applied to support a phase I clinical trial with orally administered D-24851.