Metabolism of the antineoplastic and immunosuppressive drug 2-CdA (Leustatin) in animals and humans.

1. The in vivo metabolism of the antineoplastic and immunosuppressive drug 2-CdA (Leustatin) was investigated in mice, monkeys and humans after a single subcutaneous dose of cladribine 60 mg kg(-1) to eight male and eight female mice and 10 mg kg(-1) to one male and one female monkey, and an intravenous infusion dose of cladribine 22-45 mg(-1) per subject to 12 male patients. 2. Plasma (1 h), red blood cells (1 h) and faecal samples (0-24 h) were obtained from mice and monkeys, and urine samples (0-24 h) were obtained from these species and humans. 3. Unchanged cladribine (urine: 47% of the sample in human; 60% of the sample in mouse; 73% of the sample in monkey) and 10 metabolites, consisting of four phase I metabolites (M1-3, M7) and six phase II metabolites -- five glucuronides (M4, M6, M8-10) and one sulfate (M5) -- were profiled, characterized and tentatively identified in plasma, red blood cells, and faecal and urine samples on the basis of API ionspray-mass spectrometry (MS) and MS/MS data. 4. Metabolites were formed via the following three metabolic pathways: oxidative cleavage at the adenosine and deoxyribose linkage (A); oxidation at adenosine/deoxyribose (B); and conjugation (C). 5. Pathways A and B appear to be major steps, forming four oxidative/cleavage metabolites (M1-3, M7) (each 3-20% of the sample). 6. Pathway C along or in conjunction with pathways A and B produced cladribine glucuronide, cladribine sulfate and four glucuronides of oxidative/cleavage metabolites in minor/trace quantities (each < or = 5% of the sample). 7. In addition, the in vitro metabolism of cladribine was conducted using rat and human liver microsomal fractions in the presence of an beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-generating system. Unchanged cladribine (> or = 90% of the sample) plus three minor metabolites, M1-3 (each < 8% of the sample), were profiled and tentatively identified by thin-layer chromatography and MS data. 8. Cladribine is not extensively metabolized in vitro and in vivo in all species. However, humans appear to metabolize cladribine to a greater extent than other animals.

In vitro biotransformation of the new antipsychotic agent, RWJ-46344 in rat hepatic S9 fraction: API-MS/MS/MS identification of metabolites.

The in vitro biotransformation of the antipsychotic agent, RWJ-46344 was studied after incubation with rat hepatic S9 fraction in the presence of an NADPH-generating system. Unchanged RWJ-46344 (approximately 37% of the sample) plus 12 metabolites were profiled, quantified, and tentatively identified on the basis of API (ionspray)-MS/MS/MS data. The proposed metabolic pathways for RWJ-46344 are proposed, and the six metabolic pathways are 1, O-dealkylation; 2, piperidinyl oxidation; 3, N-debenzylation; 4, phenyl hydroxylation; 5, dehydration; and 6, reduction. Pathways 1 to 3 formed O-desisopropyl RWJ-46344 (M3, approximately 13% of the sample) and its hydroxy-metabolite (M5, approximately 8%), hydroxypiperidinyl RWJ-46344 (M1, approximately 5%) and a phenylpiperidinyl metabolite (M8, approximately 24%) as major and moderate metabolites. Eight minor metabolites (each < 2%) were formed via a combination of six steps. RWJ-46344 is metabolized substantially by this rat hepatic system.

In vitro metabolism of mifepristone (RU-486) in rat, monkey and human hepatic S9 fractions: identification of three new mifepristone metabolites.

1. In vitro metabolism of the antiprogestin drug mifepristone (RU-486) was studied after incubation with rat, monkey and human hepatic S9 fractions in the presence of an NADPH-generating system. 2. Unchanged mifepristone (approximately 45% of the sample(s) in rat; approximately 70% in monkey; approximately 65% in human) plus six metabolites, three known and three new, were profiled, quantified and tentatively identified on the basis of MS and MS/MS data. 3. The proposed metabolic pathways for mifepristone are proposed, and the two metabolic steps are (A) N-demethylation and (B) methyl oxidation. 4. Step A formed N-desmethyl mifepristone (M1) in major amounts (approximately 35% s in rat, 16% in monkey and human) and N,N-didesmethyl mifepristone (M2) in minor amounts (< 5% s in all species). Step B, or in conjunction with step A, produced four minor/trace metabolites, namely hydroxymethyl mifepristone (M3), hydroxymethyl M1 (M4), hydroxymethyl M2 (M5) and formyl mifepristone (M6).

Determination of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (cladribine, 2-CdA) in human plasma by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and specific assay based on combined liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) has been developed and validated for the quantification of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (cladribine, 2-CdA) in human plasma. Sample preparation consisted of an extraction with ethyl acetate under basic conditions. The organic solvent was evaporated and the residue re-dissolved for analysis. The extracts were chromatographed on a base deactivated C-8 column interfaced via the heated nebulizer probe to a corona discharge chemical ionization source. The mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ion tandem mode. Typical retention times were 1.5 and 2.0 min for 2-CdA and a fluorinated analog internal standard (IS), respectively. The standard curve was linear from 0.1 to 20 ng ml-1 using a 1.0 ml sample volume. The resulting chromatograms produced sharp peaks for 2-CdA and the IS and showed no endogenous peaks from blank plasma. Peak area ratios of 2-CdA to IS were used for standard curve regression analysis. This assay procedure gave interday mean accuracy results for the standards and quality controls that were within 4.9% of target concentrations and interday precision results (RSDs) that were less than 5.3%.