Effects of morin on the pharmacokinetics of etoposide in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumors in female Sprague-Dawley rats

Oncol Rep. 2013 Mar;29(3):1215-23. doi: 10.3892/or.2012.2201. Epub 2012 Dec 19.

Abstract

Etoposide, used for the treatment of breast cancer, is mainly metabolized via hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 in humans and is also a substrate for p-glycoprotein (P-gp). Morin is known to be able to modulate the activities of metabolic enzymes including CYPs and can act as a potent P-gp inhibitor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of morin on the pharmacokinetics of etoposide in rats with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors. Etoposide was administered intravenously (2 mg/kg) and orally (10 mg/kg) in control and DMBA rats without (DMBA-WOM) and with (DMBA-WM) morin (15 mg/kg). Protein and mRNA expression of CYP3A and P-gp was analyzed, and the tissue distribution of etoposide was also measured. Both protein and mRNA expression of CYP3A and P-gp was inhibited by morin in the liver, intestine and breast tumors of DMBA-WM rats. After both intravenous and oral administration of etoposide in DMBA-WM rats, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC) of etoposide was significantly greater, and the time-averaged total body clearance (CL) of etoposide was significantly slower than those in control and DMBA-WOM rats. The amount of etoposide recovered from each tissue was significantly higher in DMBA-WM rats, especially in the breast tumor, liver and large intestine. No significant differences between control and DMBA-WOM rats were observed. Taken together, greater AUC and slower CL of etoposide in DMBA-WM rats could possibly be due to the inhibition of hepatic CYP3A (intravenous) and mainly due to the inhibition of intestinal CYP3A and P-gp (oral) by morin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / chemically induced
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacokinetics*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / metabolism
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Etoposide / pharmacokinetics*
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tissue Distribution / drug effects

Substances

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Flavonoids
  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
  • Etoposide
  • morin
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A