Phenolic diterpenes from Rosemary supercritical extract inhibit non-small cell lung cancer lipid metabolism and synergise with therapeutic drugs in the clinic.

Lung cancer is one of the most deadly and common cancers in the world. The molecular features of patient's tumours dictate the different therapeutic decisions, which combines targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Altered cellular metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Tumour cells reprogram their metabolism to adapt to their novel requirements of growth, proliferation, and survival. Together with the Warburg effect, the role of lipid metabolism alterations in cancer development and prognosis has been highlighted. Several lipid related genes have been shown to promote transformation and progression of cancer cells and have been proposed as biomarkers for prognosis. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of the regulation of lipid metabolism and the biological consequences in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been elucidated yet. There is an urgent necessity to develop multidisciplinary and complementary strategies to improve NSCLC patients´ well-being and treatment response. Nutrients can directly affect fundamental cellular processes and some diet-derived ingredients, bioactive natural compounds and natural extracts have been shown to inhibit the tumour growth in preclinical and clinical trials. Previously, we described a supercritical extract of rosemary (SFRE) (12 - 16% composition of phenolic diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol) as a potential antitumoral agent in colon and breast cancer due to its effects on the inhibition of lipid metabolism and DNA synthesis, and in the reduction of resistance to 5-FluoroUracil (5-FU). Herein, we demonstrate SFRE inhibits NSCLC cell bioenergetics identifying several lipid metabolism implicated targets. Moreover, SFRE synergises with standard therapeutic drugs used in the clinic, such as cisplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab to inhibit of cell viability of NSCLC cells. Importantly, the clinical relevance of SFRE as a complement in the treatment of NSCLC patients is suggested based on the results of a pilot clinical trial where SFRE formulated with bioactive lipids (PCT/ES2017/070263) diminishes metabolic and inflammatory targets in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), such as MAPK (p=0.04), NLRP3 (p=0.044), and SREBF1 (p=0.047), which may augment the immune antitumour function. Based on these results, SFRE merits further investigation as a co-adjuvant in the treatment of NSCLC. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05080920.

Evaluation of the influence of sex and CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 polymorphisms in the disposition of citalopram.

We investigate the impact of sex and genotype on citalopram disposition in 35 healthy volunteers who received an oral dose of 20mg citalopram within a single-dose bioequivalence study. CYP2C19*2 and *3, and CYP2D6*4 mutations were determined by Real-Time PCR. The influence of sex and genotype was analyzed by a linear mixed model for repeated measures, including formulation, period, sequence, sex, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 as fixed effects and subject nested sequence*sex*CYP2C19*CYP2D6 as the random one. Pharmacokinetic parameters were log-transformed and AUC(infinity) and C(max) adjusted to the administered dose/weight. The model yields a statistical significance in AUC(infinity) and CL/F for CYP2C19 and CYP2D6. Gender, formulation, sequence or period effects were not statistically significant. AUC(infinity) of CYP2C19*1/*2 and CYP2C19*2/*2 carriers is 44% and 118% higher than wild type, respectively; CYP2D6 volunteers carrying 1/4 have an AUC 23% higher than wild type. Our data also suggest that the influence of CYP2D6 on AUC(infinity) is very low when it is in association with CYP2C19*1/*1 while its influence is more apparent in association with CYP2C19*1/*2. In conclusion, we demonstrate the influence of CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in the disposition of citalopram, and we suggest that the influence of CYP2D6 is more probable in volunteers with at least one defective allele of CYP2C19.

Influence of sex and CYP2D6 genotype on mirtazapine disposition, evaluated in Spanish healthy volunteers.

AIMS: To evaluate the influence of sex and CYP2D6 genotype on mirtazapine disposition within two bioequivalence studies in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Seventy-two healthy volunteers were included in two standard 2 x 2 crossover bioequivalence trials. Subjects received a single 30-mg oral dose of each mirtazapine formulation in each study period. Plasma concentrations were measured from 0 to 96 or 120 h by a HPLC with coupled mass spectrometry validated method. CYP2D6 genotyping was available for 68 subjects that were classified into three phenotypic groups depending on the number of active gene copies: extensive/ultrarapid metabolizers (UM-EM), intermediate (IM) and poor metabolizers (PM). To evaluate the influence of sex and genotype on mirtazapine disposition we performed a linear mixed model for repeated measures. Pharmacokinetic data were log-transformed and AUC and C(max) adjusted to the administered dose/weight. Factors included in the model were centre, formulation, period, sequence, sex and genotype as fixed effects, and subject nested sequence x sex x genotype as random one. A second model was also performed adding the interaction sex x genotype to the previous model. RESULTS: Mirtazapine disposition evaluated as AUC(0-infinity) is influenced by sex (p=0.007) and CYP2D6 phenotype group (p=0.01). Attending to the theoretical figures provided by the model, mean (95% CI) dose/weight adjusted AUC(0-infinity) (ng h/ml)/(mg/kg) is 1516.62 (1411.27-1628.22) in EM/UM, 1613.63 (1482.14-1758.55) in IM and 2049.28 (1779.78-2357.24) in PM. In the case of C(max) these figures also show a trend to higher values in PM, but it did not reach statistical significance. Females show a lower dose/weight adjusted AUC(0-infinity): 1594.39 (1477.70-1720.28) vs. 1837.65 (1694.67-1992.70). On the contrary dose/weight adjusted C(max) is higher in females than in males: 38.33 (34.79-42.28) vs. 32.66 (29.44-36.21). CONCLUSIONS: Both CYP2D6 genotype group and sex influence the disposition of mirtazapine in healthy volunteers and confirm reported data in the literature obtained by different methods. No sex-by-genotype interaction could be detected.

CYP2C9 polymorphism in five autochthonous population of the same geographic area (Spanish Pyrenees).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of CYP2C9 polymorphisms in a cohort of Caucasians (Spanish Pyrenees), previously classified in autochthonous populations. METHODS: Blood samples from 154 anonymous volunteer donors were collected. All the individuals were autochthonous to their respective populations (four grandparents born in the region): 23 from Valle de Arán (Lérida), 29 from Alto Urgel (Lérida), 32 from La Cerdaña (Gerona), 30 from Jacetania (Huesca) and 40 from Cinco Villas (Navarra). The analyses for allelic mutation, CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3, were identified with Taqman Allelic Discrimination kits. RESULTS: No statistical differences were found when allelic frequencies in the five autochthonous populations were compared. Frequency distribution of genotypic classes (wt/wt, wt/mut and mut/mut) in Alto Urgel was different from that in La Cerdaña, Cinco Villas and Jacetania samples. Comparison of Pyrenean and other European populations through exact test revealed significant differences in the distribution of genotypic classes: Alto Urgel, Barcelona, and Croatia yielded the highest significant differences. According to the exact test these populations were pooled in four groups. This classification produced a statistically significant percentage of variation explained by differences among groups (1.94%, P= 0.036), but not by differences among populations within groups (P=0.914), although most of the percentage of variance is explained by differences within populations (97.46%, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study increases the evidence of intra-population genotypic variability and highlights the significant genotypic heterogeneity when different autochthonous populations are considered, despite no clear differences in allelic frequencies do exist.

Interindividual variability in ibuprofen pharmacokinetics is related to interaction of cytochrome P450 2C8 and 2C9 amino acid polymorphisms.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to identify genetic factors related to interindividual variability in the pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen and its enantiomers. METHODS: The time course for ibuprofen plasma concentration was measured by HPLC in 130 healthy individuals who received a single oral dose of 400 mg racemic ibuprofen. Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid was analyzed for common mutations at CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 genes that cause amino acid substitutions. RESULTS: Ibuprofen clearance values were 4.04 L/h (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.61-4.47 L/h), 2.79 L/h (95% CI, 2.07-3.52 L/h), and 0.40 L/h (95% CI, 0.37-0.43 L/h) for carriers of CYP2C8 genotypes *1/*1, *1/*3, and *3/*3, respectively, and 4.43 L/h (95% CI, 3.94-4.92 L/h), 3.26 L/h (95% CI, 2.53-3.99 L/h), 2.91 L/h (95% CI, 1.52-4.30 L/h), 2.05 L/h (95% CI, 0-6.37 L/h), 1.83 L/h (95% CI, 1.24-2.41 L/h), and 1.13 L/h (95% CI, 0.58-1.66 L/h) for carriers of the CYP2C9 genotypes *1/*1, *1/*2, *1/*3, *2/*2, *2/*3, and *3/*3, respectively. The P values for comparison across nonmutated, heterozygous, and homozygous genotypes were as follows: P <.001 for CYP2C8*3, P <.005 for CYP2C9*2, and P <.001 for CYP2C9*3. The main genetic factor for reduced clearance of R-(-)-ibuprofen is the CYP2C8*3 allele, whereas the clearance for S-(+)-ibuprofen is influenced by CYP2C8*3 and CYP2C9*3 alleles to a similar extent. The CYP2C9*2 allele was associated with low clearance only when it was present in combination with the CYP2C8*3 allele. As compared with individuals with no mutations, individuals with the common genotype CYP2C8*1/*3 plus CYP2C9*1/*2 (19% of the population) displayed decreased ibuprofen clearance (mean, 65% [95% CI, 42%-89%]; P <.001). Individuals homozygous or double-heterozygous for CYP2C8*3 and CYP2C9*3 variant alleles (8% of the population) had extremely low ibuprofen clearance rates, with values ranging from 7% to 27% of the mean clearance rates among noncarriers of mutations (P <.001). No enantiospecific reduction of ibuprofen clearance was observed. CONCLUSION: Low ibuprofen clearance occurs in a substantial proportion of healthy subjects, is not enantiospecific, and is strongly linked to CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 polymorphisms.

Semi-automatic quantitative RT-PCR to measure CYP induction by drugs in human hepatocytes.

An assay has been developed for the quantitative measurement of CYP mRNA content of the major human isoforms (1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4 and 3A5) in human hepatocytes. The method is based on the conversion of mRNAs into their corresponding cDNAs, followed by PCR amplification using appropriate primers. Making use of appropriate internal and external standards it is possible to estimate changes in CYP mRNA content of hepatocytes. The technique has been standardised to run semi-automatically. This procedure can be used to assess the CYP induction potential of new pharmaceuticals at a pre-clinical stage of development. To this aim, human hepatocytes obtained from functional liver tissue are incubated with the drugs for 50 h. Total RNA is extracted from culture and the cDNA is prepared by reverse transcription using high fidelity reverse transcriptase. Using appropriate primers, selective amplification of each CYP cDNA is achieved and real-time quantified by SYBR-Green fluorescence measurement. The extent of CYP induction obtained with the tested compounds is compared with the induction obtained with CYP model inducers (methylcholantrene, phenobarbital and rifampicin). This technique can be of value, to considerably simplify the identification of drug candidates with potential CYP inducing ability in man.

Lidocaine with fentanyl, compared to morphine, marginally improves postoperative epidural analgesia in children.

PURPOSE: To compare the epidural administration of fentanyl (1 microg/mL) combined with lidocaine 0.4% to preservative-free morphine for postoperative analgesia and side effects in children undergoing major orthopedic surgery. METHODS: In a prospective, double-blind study, 30 children, ASA I-II, 2-16-yr-old, were randomly allocated to receive immediately after surgery either epidural F-L (epidural infusion at a rate of 0.1-0.35 mL/kg/hr of 1 microg/mL of fentanyl and lidocaine 0.4%) or epidural M (bolus of 20 microg/kg of morphine in 0.5 mL/kg saline every eight hours). Both groups received 40 mg/kg of iv metamizol (dipyrone) every six hours. In the F-L Group, blood samples were taken on the second and third postoperative day to determine total lidocaine concentrations. Adequacy of analgesia using adapted pediatric pain scales (0-10 score) and side-effects were assessed every eight hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Resting pain scores were under 4, 95% of the time in the F-L Group and 87% of the time in the M Group (Chi square=4.674, P <0.05). The frequency of complications was very similar in both groups. The F-L Group total plasma lidocaine concentrations were directly related to the dose received, and below the toxic range in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative epidural fentanyl with lidocaine infusion provides slightly better analgesia than conventional bolus administration of epidural morphine. Side-effects or risk of systemic toxicity were not augmented by the addition of lidocaine to epidural opioids.