Abstract 2607: Endoxifen pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of in female rats and dogs
Authors: Reid Joel M. , Buhrow Sarah A. , Safgren Stephanie L. , Jia Lee , Schweikart Karen , Noker Patricia E. , Davis Myrtle , Collins Jerry M. , Goetz Matthew P. , Ames Matthew M. 
Published: February 2011

Endoxifen (END), the active metabolite of tamoxifen (TAM), is currently being developed as a drug for the treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer based on recent in vitro and clinical data demonstrating that TAM drug effect is substantially related to circulating plasma concentrations of END, a secondary metabolite produced by human CYP2D6 metabolism. Women with deficient CYP2D6 metabolism have lower END concentrations and a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence. We characterized the pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of END in female rats and dogs. We further compared END exposure following equivalent doses of END and TAM. Rats were administered 2 mg/kg i.v. END, 20 − 200 mg/kg oral END or 80 mg/kg oral TAM. Fasted dogs were administered 0.5 mg/kg i.v. END, 15 − 100 mg/kg oral END or 30 mg/kg oral TAM. Plasma END concentrations were also measured in rats or dogs after oral dosing once per day for 4 consecutive days. Plasma samples were analyzed using a validated reverse-phase HPLC method with fluorescence detection.

In the single-dose administration study, terminal elimination half-life and plasma clearance values in rats given 2 mg/kg i.v. END were 6.3 h and 2.4 L/h/kg, respectively. Plasma concentrations above 0.1 µM and 1 µM END were achieved with 20 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses, respectively, and those concentrations were maintained for longer than 24 h. Oral absorption of END was linear over the range of 20 − 140 mg/kg with a bioavailability greater than 67%. END exposure in rats following 80 mg/kg oral END was 100-fold greater than END exposure following 80-mg/kg oral TAM. Following 0.5 mg/kg i.v. END to dogs, terminal elimination half-life and plasma clearance values were 9.2 h and 0.4 L/h/kg, respectively. Plasma concentrations above 1 µM and 10 µM were achieved with the 15 mg/kg dose and 100 mg/kg, respectively, and those concentrations were maintained for longer than 24 h. Absorption was linear over the range of 15 − 100 mg/kg with a bioavailability greater than 50%. END exposure in dogs following 30 mg/kg oral END was 10-fold greater than END exposure following 30-mg/kg oral TAM.

In the repeated-dose administration study, the day 4 END peak plasma concentration in rats increased from 1 to 9 µM as the daily END dose was increased from 20 to 200 mg/kg. The day 4 END peak plasma concentration in dogs exceeded 20 µM and plasma concentrations remained above 2 µM for 24 hours following 4 daily doses of 30 mg/kg END. Based on these data, we conclude that END has high oral bioavailability; high concentrations may be maintained after repeated dosing in dogs and rats; and substantially higher END concentrations are achievable following an oral dose of END in comparison to a similar dose of TAM. Supported by NCI contract N01-CM-52206.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2607.