Peptides derived from the dependence receptor ALK are proapoptotic for ALK-positive tumors.

ALK is a receptor tyrosine kinase with an oncogenic role in various types of human malignancies. Despite constitutive activation of the kinase through gene alterations, such as chromosomal translocation, gene amplification or mutation, treatments with kinase inhibitors invariably lead to the development of resistance. Aiming to develop new tools for ALK targeting, we took advantage of our previous demonstration identifying ALK as a dependence receptor, implying that in the absence of ligand the kinase-inactive ALK triggers or enhances apoptosis. Here, we synthesized peptides mimicking the proapoptotic domain of ALK and investigated their biological effects on tumor cells. We found that an ALK-derived peptide of 36 amino acids (P36) was cytotoxic for ALK-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and neuroblastoma cell lines. In contrast, ALK-negative tumor cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells were insensitive to P36. The cytotoxic effect was due to caspase-dependent apoptosis and required N-myristoylation of the peptide. Two P36-derived shorter peptides as well as a cyclic peptide also induced apoptosis. Surface plasmon resonance and mass spectrometry analysis of P36-interacting proteins from two responsive cell lines, Cost lymphoma and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma, uncovered partners that could involve p53-dependent signaling and pre-mRNA splicing. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of p53 rescued these cells from P36-induced apoptosis. Finally, we observed that a treatment combining P36 with the ALK-specific inhibitor crizotinib resulted in additive cytotoxicity. Therefore, ALK-derived peptides could represent a novel targeted therapy for ALK-positive tumors.

A new generation of Melan-A/MART-1 peptides that fulfill both increased immunogenicity and high resistance to biodegradation: implication for molecular anti-melanoma immunotherapy.

Intense efforts of research are made for developing antitumor vaccines that stimulate T cell-mediated immunity. Tumor cells specifically express at their surfaces antigenic peptides presented by MHC class I and recognized by CTL. Tumor antigenic peptides hold promise for the development of novel cancer immunotherapies. However, peptide-based vaccines face two major limitations: the weak immunogenicity of tumor Ags and their low metabolic stability in biological fluids. These two hurdles, for which separate solutions exist, must, however, be solved simultaneously for developing improved vaccines. Unfortunately, attempts made to combine increased immunogenicity and stability of tumor Ags have failed until now. Here we report the successful design of synthetic derivatives of the human tumor Ag Melan-A/MART-1 that combine for the first time both higher immunogenicity and high peptidase resistance. A series of 36 nonnatural peptide derivatives was rationally designed on the basis of knowledge of the mechanism of degradation of Melan-A peptides in human serum and synthesized. Eight of them were efficiently protected against proteolysis and retained the antigenic properties of the parental peptide. Three of the eight analogs were twice as potent as the parental peptide in stimulating in vitro Melan-specific CTL responses in PBMC from normal donors. We isolated these CTL by tetramer-guided cell sorting and expanded them in vitro. The resulting CTL efficiently lysed tumor cells expressing Melan-A Ag. These Melan-A/MART-1 Ag derivatives should be considered as a new generation of potential immunogens in the development of molecular anti-melanoma vaccines.

Accurate molecular mass determination of mycolic acids by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Mycolic acids, major and specific long-chain fatty (C70-C90) acid components of the mycobacterial cell envelope, were analyzed for the first time using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry operating in a reflectron mode. The various types of purified mycolates from representative mycobacterial species were analyzed using 2,5-DHB as matrix, because less than 10 pmol of mycolates was sufficient to obtain well-resolved mass spectra composed exclusively of pseudomolecular [M + Na]+ ions consistent with the structures deduced from the chemical analytical techniques applied to these molecules. Examination of the MALDI mass spectra demonstrated that the chain lengths of the various mycolates correlated with the growth rate of mycobacterial strains. Although slow growers, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium ulcerans, produced a series of odd carbon numbers (C74-C82) of alpha-mycolic acids, rapid growers synthesized both odd and even carbon numbers. In addition, the main chain of oxygenated mycolic acids from slow growers were four to six carbon atoms longer than the corresponding alpha-mycolic acids, whereas rapid growers elaborated oxygenated homologues possessing the same chain lengths as their alpha-mycolic acids. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the crude fatty acid mixtures from a wild-type strain of M. tuberculosis and its isogenic mutant effected in the synthesis of oxygenated mycolates by MALDI mass spectrometry revealed structural differences between the alpha-mycolates from the two strains. Thus, this technique appeared to be a rapid and highly sensitive technique for the analysis of mycolic acids, not only by providing accurate molecular masses and new structural information, but also by both reducing sample consumption and saving time.

Acylation state of the phosphatidylinositol mannosides from Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette Guérin and ability to induce granuloma and recruit natural killer T cells.

Previous studies have found that, when injected into mice, glycolipidic fractions of mycobacterial cell walls containing phosphatidylinositol mannosides (PIM) induced a granuloma and recruitment of Natural Killer T cells in the lesions. The dimannoside (PIM(2)) and the hexamannoside (PIM(6)) PIM were isolated from Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette Guérin and shown to act alike, but the activity was found to be dependent on the presence of the lipidic part. The chemical structure of PIM was then re-evaluated, focusing on the characterization of their lipidic part, defining mono- to tetra-acylated PIM(2). The structure of these acyl forms was elucidated using a sophisticated combination of chemical degradations and analytical tools including electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry, electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry, and two-dimensional NMR. Finally, the acyl forms were purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and tested for their capacity to induce the granuloma and Natural Killer T cell recruitment. We found that there is an absolute requirement for the molecules to possess at least one fatty acyl chain, but the number, location, and size of the acyl chains was without effect. Moreover, increasing the complexity of the carbohydrate moiety did not lead to significant differences in the biological responses.

Identification of neuropeptide FF-related peptides in rodent spinal cord.

Peptides which should be generated from the neuropeptide FF (NPFF) precursor were identified in mouse and rat spinal cord, by using reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography with radioimmunoassay and electrospray mass spectrometry detection. In both species, two octapeptides, NPFF (Phe-Leu-Phe-Gln-Pro-Gln-Arg-Phe-amide) and NPSF (Ser-Leu-Ala-Ala-Pro-Gln-Arg-Phe-amide) were identified but a longer peptide NPA-NPFF (Asn-Pro-Ala-Phe-Leu-Phe-Gln-Pro-Gln-Arg-Phe-amide) was present at the highest concentration in rat spinal cord. In mouse, the homologous peptide, SPA-NPFF (Ser-Pro-Ala-Phe-Leu-Phe-Gln-Pro-Gln-Arg-Phe-amide) was not detected. Both peptides NPFF and NPSF reverse morphine-induced analgesia in the tail flick test. Our data reveal species differences in the maturation of NPFF precursor.

Structural characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoarabinomannans by the combination of capillary electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) associated with capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been used for structural characterization of mannooligosaccharide caps from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37rv mannosylated lipoarabinomannans (ManLAMs). The mannooligosaccharide caps were released by mild acid hydrolysis, labeled with 1-aminopyrene-3,6,8-trisulfonate (APTS) prior to being separated by CE, collected, and analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS and post-source decay experiments. This approach was optimized using standard APTS-labeled oligosaccharides. With the selected (9:1) mixture of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) and 5-methoxysalicylic acid (MSA) as matrix and the on-probe sample cleanup procedure with cation-exchange resin, standard APTS-maltotriose was successfully detected down to 50 fmol using linear-mode negative MALDI-TOF-MS. Moreover, using extraction delay time, only 100 and 500 fmol of this standard were required, respectively, to obtain accurate reflectron mass measurements and sequence determination through post-source decay experiments. Applied to only 5 microg (294 pmol) of M. tuberculosis ManLAMs, this analytical approach allowed successful mass characterization of the mannooligosaccharide cap structures from the deprotonated molecular ions [M - H]- and the y-type ion fragments obtained in post-source decay experiments. This powerful analytical approach opens new insights into both the characterization of oligosaccharides and the capping motifs displayed by ManLAMs purified from mycobacteria isolated from tubercular patients without in vitro culturing.

Structural and functional identification of major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted self-peptides as naturally occurring molecular mimics of viral antigens. Possible role in CD8+ T cell-mediated, virus-induced autoimmune disease.

Structural similarity (molecular mimicry) between viral epitopes and self-peptides can lead to the induction of autoaggressive CD4(+) as well as CD8(+) T cell responses. Based on the flexibility of T cell receptor/antigen/major histocompatibility complex recognition, it has been proposed that a self-peptide could replace a viral epitope for T cell recognition and therefore participate in pathophysiological processes in which T cells are involved. To address this issue, we used, as a molecular model of viral antigen, the H-2D(b)-restricted immunodominant epitope nucleoprotein (NP)-(396-404) (FQPQNGQFI) of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). We identified peptide sequences from murine self-proteins that share structural and functional homology with LCMV NP-(396-404) and that bound to H-2D(b) with high affinity. One of these self-peptides, derived from tumor necrosis factor receptor I (FGPSNWHFM, amino acids 302-310), maintained LCMV-specific CD8(+) T cells in an active state as observed both in vitro in cytotoxic assays and in vivo in a model of virus-induced autoimmune diabetes, the rat insulin promoter-LCMV NP transgenic mouse. The natural occurrence and molecular concentration at the surface of H-2(b) spleen cells of tumor necrosis factor receptor I-(302-310) were determined by on-line micro-high pressure liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and supported its biological relevance.

Processing of some antigens by the standard proteasome but not by the immunoproteasome results in poor presentation by dendritic cells.

By stimulating human lymphocytes with an autologous renal carcinoma, we obtained CTL recognizing an antigen derived from a novel, ubiquitous protein. The CTL failed to lyse autologous EBV-transformed B cells, even though the latter express the protein. This is due to the presence in these cells of immunoproteasomes, which, unlike standard proteasomes, cannot produce the antigenic peptide. We show that dendritic cells also carry immunoproteasomes and fail to present this antigen. This may explain why the relevant CTL escape thymic deletion and are not regularly activated in the periphery. Lack of cleavage by the immunoproteasome was also observed for melanoma differentiation antigen Melan-A26-35/HLA-A2, currently used for antitumoral vaccination. For immunization with such antigens, proteins should be less suitable than peptides, which do not require proteasome digestion in dendritic cells.

A structure-based approach to designing non-natural peptides that can activate anti-melanoma cytotoxic T cells.

Tumor antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules and recognized by CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) may generate an efficient antitumor immune response after appropriate immunization. Antigenic peptides can be used in vivo to induce antitumor or antiviral immunity. The efficiency of naked peptides may be greatly limited by their degradation in the biological fluids. We present a rational, structure-based approach to design structurally modified, peptidase-resistant and biologically active analogues of human tumor antigen MAGE-1.A1. This approach is based on our understanding of the peptide interaction with the MHC and the T cell receptor and its precise degradation pathway. Knowledge of these mechanisms led to the design of a non-natural, minimally modified analogue of MAGE-1.A1, [Aib2, NMe-Ser8]MAGE-1.A1, which was highly peptidase-resistant and bound to MHC and activated MAGE-1.A1-specific anti-melanoma CTLs. Thus, we showed that it is possible to structurally modify peptide epitopes to obtain analogues that are still specifically recognized by CTLs. Such analogues may represent interesting leads for antitumor synthetic vaccines.

Characterization of mannooligosaccharide caps in mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan by capillary electrophoresis/electrospray mass spectrometry.

A new analytical approach based on capillary electrophoresis-electrospray mass spectrometry (CE/ESI-MS) has provided new insight into the characterization of mannooligosaccharide caps from lipoarabinomannans (LAMs), which are key molecules in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis. This analytical approach requires oligosaccharide labeling with the fluorophore 1-aminopyrene-3,6,8-trisulfonate (APTS) by reductive amination at the reducing termini. Optimization of the separation and ionization conditions, such as the choice of capillary electrophoresis (CE) electrolyte buffers, is presented and discussed. Anionic separation of the mono and oligosaccharide APTS derivatives was finally achieved with aqueous triethylammonium formate buffer. It was found that in contrast to the triethylammonium phosphate buffer, the triethylammonium formate buffer was appropriate for CE/ESI-MS coupling analysis of APTS-carbohydrate derivatives. In this case, negative ESI-mass spectra of APTS-carbohydrate adducts showed mainly (M-2H)2-pseudomolecular ions and some sequence fragment ions allowing their non-ambiguous structural characterization at the picomolar level. This analytical approach was successfully applied to more complex mixtures of carbohydrates released by mild acid hydrolysis of the lipoarabinomannans from Mycobacterium bovis BCG. The APTS-mannooligosaccharide cap adducts were separated by CE and their structural characterization achieved by CE/ESI-MS analyses. Mannooligosaccharide caps were routinely analyzed by capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) from 50 fmol of lipoarabinomannans with mannosyl capping (ManLAMs) but sensitivity was about 50 times lower using ESI-MS detection.

Analysis of the degradation mechanisms of MHC class I-presented tumor antigenic peptides by high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: application to the design of peptidase-resistant analogs.

Peptide vaccines based on the use of MHC class I restricted epitopes are currently assayed for anti-tumor and anti-viral immunotherapy. With the aim of designing minimally modified, peptidase-resistant analogs, we developed a rational approach based on a detailed understanding of the degradation mechanism of peptides in serum. Degradation of murine tumor antigen P198 and human tumor antigen MAGE-3.A1 was followed by on line high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS). This method provided high precision and sensitivity for rapid and direct analysis of degradation fragments in a complex mixture and, very importantly, precise identification of transient degradation fragments present at low concentrations. The design of structurally modified analogs, and the analysis of their degradation by on-line HPLC/ESI-MS, allowed us to to demonstrate the efficiency of local modifications in the protection of a given peptide bond towards a specific peptidase activity.

Modification of paclitaxel metabolism in a cancer patient by induction of cytochrome P450 3A4.

Biliary, plasma, and urinary disposition of paclitaxel and paclitaxel metabolites were determined simultaneously in a patient with percutaneous biliary drain. The complete chemical structures of the major metabolites were established by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. A nonlinear elimination model was indicated by the fact that the rate of biliary excretion of paclitaxel rose as plasma concentrations fell. Dihydroxypaclitaxel was the predominant biliary metabolite, in contrast to the barely detectable levels in two previous patients. This derivative results from hydroxylation at the C6 position of the taxane ring and at the phenyl C3'-position on the C13 side chain mediated by cytochrome P450 2C8 and 3A4, respectively. In line with this mechanism, the two other main metabolites corresponded to 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel and to the paclitaxel derivative hydroxylated in the para-position on the phenyl ring at the C3'-position of the C13. A high CYP3A4 activity in the patient is consistent with the repeated administration of methylprednisolone for 14 days before paclitaxel treatment, a compound known to induce the CYP3A isoform, and with the increased ratio of 6beta-hydroxycortisol/cortisol in urine, an index of CYP3A activity. These findings emphasize the influence of pretreatment with corticoids on the disposition of paclitaxel.

Biotransformation of taxoids by human cytochromes P450: structure-activity relationship.

The metabolism of paclitaxel and docetaxel by human liver microsomes was investigated in vitro. The main metabolite of paclitaxel formed in vitro was the 6 alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel: its formation largely exceeded the formation of other metabolites hydroxylated on the lateral chain by rat liver microsomes and initially characterized in rat bile. In contrast, in vitro studied showed that the initial metabolite of docetaxel resulted from the hydroxylation of the tert-butyl of the lateral chain at C13 and that the same metabolites were formed in human and animal models. Comparison of individual CYP protein content of human microsomes and catalytic activities with taxoid biotransformation, showed that 2 distinct isoforms were assigned to the 6 alpha-hydroxylation (CYP2C) and to the hydroxylation of the lateral chain (CYP3A4). Chemical and immunological inhibitions confirmed these assumptions. The effect of antineoplastic drugs potentially associated with taxoids during chemotherapy has been tested in vitro on paclitaxel and docetaxel biotransformations. In the therapeutic range, vincristine, vinblastine, doxorubicine and cisplatin elicited a moderate or no inhibition of paclitaxel and docetaxel metabolism, as well as cimetidine, ranitidine and diphenylhydramine used to prevent major side effects associated with taxoid therapy. In patients given barbiturates, the hydroxylation on the lateral chain of paclitaxel and docetaxel was markedly stimulated and resulted from the induction of CYP3A isoforms. These results clearly demonstrated that the biotransformation of paclitaxel and docetaxel by human liver microsomes was supported by 2 distinct CYP proteins and that drug interactions could modify the therapeutic efficiency of taxoids during chemotherapy.

Characterization of an epitope of the human cytomegalovirus protein IE1 recognized by a CD4+ T cell clone.

CD4+ T cells specific for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) IE1 protein are potential effectors of the control of HCMV infection through cytokine production. Better knowledge of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide-T cell receptor (TcR) interactions in the CD4+ T cell response should result in a better design of immunizing peptides and is a prerequisite for the development of vaccines or anti-cytomegalovirus therapy. In this study, the recombinant protein comprising residues 86-491 encoded by exon 4 of IE1 (GST-e4) was cleaved by enzymatic digestion and analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). We identified the 14-residue epitope 162-DKREMWMACIKELH-175 recognized by an HLA-DR8-restricted clone, BeA3. Synthetic elongated, truncated and di-Ala-substituted peptides of the 18-mer IE1 158-IVPEDKREMWMACIKELH-175 sequence were used to analyze the amino acid motifs involved in binding to HLA-DR8 and recognition by the BeA3 clone. Substitutions which abolished (MW --> AA), or decreased (RE --> AA and MA --> AA) T cell clone proliferation, cytokine production and cytotoxicity were identified. Loss of T cell function induced by the MW --> AA substitution was associated with poor HLA-DR8 binding. Decreased T cell function (RE --> AA and MA --> AA) was associated with good HLA-DR8 binding, which suggested that these motifs were involved in TcR binding. Other substitutions induced potentiation of the T cell clone response: the IV --> AA substitution induced stronger proliferation, but equivalent cytokine production, when compared with the reference peptide IE1 (158-175). CI --> AA substitution induced strong potentiation of HLA-DR8 binding, proliferation and interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 production, possibly due to the removal of negative effects of Cys, Ile, or both side chains. Cytotoxicity was not improved by any substitution. Our results show modulation of the CD4+ T cell response according to the peptide residues involved in the HLA-DR8-peptide-TcR interaction.

Vincristine degradation by serum from leukemic patients: role of myeloperoxidase.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been shown to catalyze the in vitro degradation of vincristine (VCR). Given that MPO is a lysosomal enzyme that can be released into the circulation by both normal activated and leukemic myeloid cells, we investigated the possibility that sera from patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) might exhibit an increased capacity to degrade VCR. 31 serum samples (23 from patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia and 8 from patients with other conditions) were analyzed after incubation with ((3)H)VCR by using HPLC. Sera from patients with AML demonstrated an increased ability to breakdown VCR when compared to either normal sera or to sera from patients with lymphoid leukemias. VCR degradation was significantly increased by adding hydrogen peroxide, an electron donor for MPO, to the sera and was almost completely inhibited by adding 1 mM acetaminophen, an inhibitor of MPO. VCR peroxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide correlated both with the number of leukemic blasts in the circulation at the time the sera were obtained and with serum MPO concentrations determined by an immunoassay. These data suggest that the inactivity of VCR in AML may be due in part to its rapid peroxidation to inactive species by the MPO of leukemic myeloblasts.

Metabolism of docetaxel by human cytochromes P450: interactions with paclitaxel and other antineoplastic drugs.

The metabolism of docetaxel by human liver microsomes was investigated in vitro and compared with that of paclitaxel. A main docetaxel metabolite was generated by human liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH: retention time in high pressure liquid chromatography and its ion fragmentation in mass spectrometry were identical to those of the authentic derivative hydroxylated at the butyl group of the C13 side chain. Kinetic measurements and chemical and immunological inhibitions demonstrated that CYP3A was implicated in the hydroxylation of docetaxel: Km (2 microM) and Vm values of docetaxel for human liver microsomes were comparable to those calculated for the formation of metabolite p-hydroxy-phenyl C3' paclitaxel (M4). Docetaxel hydroxylation correlated only with the CYP3A content of microsomes and with CYP3A-dependent 6 beta-hydroxylation of testosterone and 16-hydroxylation of dehydroepiandrosterone. The formation of hydroxydocetaxel was strongly reduced by CYP3A inhibitors such as ketoconazole, midazolam, erythromycin, testosterone, orphenadrine, and troleandomycin, whereas quinidine (CYP2D6), hexobarbital, tolbutamide, and mephenytoin (CYP2C) had no or little effect. The hydroxylation of docetaxel exhibited a highly positive correlation with the formation of metabolite M4 of paclitaxel (r = 0.929, P < 0.0001, n = 12), but not with its 6-hydroxylation (r = 0.48, P > 0.15). Docetaxel abolished the hydroxylation of paclitaxel metabolite M4, but was totally inactive on its 6 alpha-hydroxylation. Conversely, paclitaxel reduced significantly the hydroxylation of docetaxel. We examined in vitro the possible interaction among docetaxel, paclitaxel, and drugs which could be associated during chemotherapy. Cisplatin, verapamil, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and vincristine at concentrations usually recommended did not markedly modify taxoid metabolism. Ranitidine and diphenylhydramine had no effect, but 100 microM cimetidine partially inhibited the formation of 6 alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel. Pretreatment of patients with barbiturates strikingly stimulated docetaxel hydroxylation, whereas no acceleration of docetaxel hydroxylation was noticed in a patient receiving steroids.

Isolation and structure of the endogenous agonist of opioid receptor-like ORL1 receptor.

The ORL1 receptor, an orphan receptor whose human and murine complementary DNAs have recently been characterized, structurally resembles opioid receptors and is negatively coupled with adenylate cyclase. ORL1 transcripts are particularly abundant in the central nervous system. Here we report the isolation, on the basis of its ability to inhibit the cyclase in a stable recombinant CHO(ORL1+) cell line, of a neuropeptide that resembles dynorphin A9 and whose amino acid sequence is Phe-Gly-Gly-Phe-Thr-Gly-Ala-Arg-Lys-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Ala-Asn-Gln. The rat-brain cDNA encodes the peptide flanked by Lys-Arg proteolytic cleavage motifs. The synthetic heptadecapeptide potently inhibits adenylate cyclase in CHO(ORL1+) cells in culture and induces hyperalgesia when administered intracerebroventricularly to mice. Taken together, these data indicate that the newly discovered heptadecapeptide is an endogenous agonist of the ORL1 receptor and that it may be endowed with pro-nociceptive properties.

Paclitaxel metabolites in human plasma and urine: identification of 6 alpha-hydroxytaxol, 7-epitaxol and taxol hydrolysis products using liquid chromatography/atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), with an atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface, has been applied to the identification of metabolites and derivatives of paclitaxel (taxol) in plasma and urine of patients treated with this new anticancer drug. Protonated molecules with substantial fragmentation were obtained using this ionization technique. The three ion series observed are characteristic of the intact molecule, the taxane ring, and the side chain at C13. Their analysis gives information about chemical modifications of the taxane structure at different positions of the molecule. Urine and plasma extracts were evaluated using the capacity to perform MS analysis directly on the entire effluent from conventional LC columns. Excellent spectra were obtained with 50 pmol of separated compounds in full scan mode. This technique allowed highly sensitive identification of 6 alpha-hydroxytaxol, the major human biliary metabolite, and of 7-epitaxol in extracts of plasma and urine from patients. Taxol hydrolysis derivatives were observed for the first time in urine 24 hours after the end of the infusion period. Sensitivity could be increased further using single ion monitoring (SIM) mode, once a target derivative was identified. These results demonstrate that LC/MS with an APCI interface is useful for the characterization and pharmacokinetic analysis of taxoids in biological matrices.

Clinical pharmacology and metabolism of Taxol (paclitaxel): update 1993.

Paclitaxel may be one of the most important anticancer agents to be developed over the past 2 decades. With its unique mechanism of action as an inducer of tubulin assembly, paclitaxel has demonstrated impressive antitumor activity in patients with breast, lung (both non-small cell and small cell), head and neck, and advanced and platinum-refractory ovarian carcinomas. Unfortunately, there has been a relative lack of pharmacologic data available for paclitaxel, compared with other agents in similar phases of development. This scarcity of data is due, in part, to the aqueous insolubility of paclitaxel and to difficulties in developing sensitive analytic assays to measure the full range of drug concentrations achieved in small animals, both of which have limited preclinical pharmacologic studies. This report reviews the pharmacology of paclitaxel as ascertained during early clinical trials. Although most early studies used prolonged intravenous administration schedules of the agent as both monotherapy and in chemotherapy combinations, more recent studies have evaluated shorter administration schedules. In addition, available information pertaining to the pharmacodynamic and metabolic profiles of paclitaxel are discussed. Such information may be useful in designing rational treatment regimens of paclitaxel as a single agent and in chemotherapy combinations, potentially resulting in the optimal utilization of this important agent in cancer chemotherapeutics.

Taxol metabolism by human liver microsomes: identification of cytochrome P450 isozymes involved in its biotransformation.

The biotransformation of taxol by human liver was investigated in vitro with microsomes isolated from adult and developing human tissues. In vitro, no metabolism was detected with kidney microsomes, whereas two metabolites were generated by liver microsomes. The most prominent metabolite, termed M5, corresponded to an hydroxylation at the C6 position on the taxane ring, while the other metabolite, termed M4, corresponded to an hydroxylation at the para-position on the phenyl ring at the C3'-position of the C13 side chain. These two taxol derivatives have been shown to be the major metabolites recovered in bile from a patient infused with taxol. Several approaches have been used to identify the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes involved in these reactions. No positive correlation was observed between the in vitro synthesis of these two metabolites, suggesting that two cytochrome P450 isozymes could be involved, although they could not be distinguished by their apparent affinities (Km approximately 15 microM). The formation of metabolite M4 was substantially reduced both by antibody directed against CYP3A and by the addition of CYP3A substrates such as orphenadrine, erythromycin, troleandomycin, and testosterone. Conversely, the formation of metabolite M5 remained unaffected by antibodies against CYP3A and by CYP3A substrates but was sensitive to diazepam inhibition, a preferential substrate of CYP2C. Correlation between CYP2C content or diazepam demethylation and the synthesis of metabolite M5 was highly positive. The formation of metabolite M4 developed during the early postnatal period. In contrast, the synthesis of metabolite M5 rose only after 3 months of age. These data clearly implicate CYP3A in the formation of metabolite M4 and CYP2C in the synthesis of metabolite M5. Microsomes from patients treated with barbiturates and benzodiazepines increased the formation of metabolite M4 to the level of metabolite M5, demonstrating that drug interactions could modify the human metabolism of taxol.