Pharmacometabolomics for predicting variable busulfan exposure in paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients

Sci Rep. 2017 May 10;7(1):1711. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01861-7.

Abstract

Owing to its narrow therapeutic range and high pharmacokinetic variability, optimal dosing for busulfan is important to minimise overexposure-related systemic toxicity and underexposure-related graft failure. Using global metabolomics, we investigated biomarkers for predicting busulfan exposure. We analysed urine samples obtained before busulfan administration from 59 paediatric patients divided into 3 groups classified by area under the busulfan concentration-time curve (AUC), i.e., low-, medium-, and high-AUC groups. In the high-AUC group, deferoxamine metabolites were detected. Phenylacetylglutamine and two acylcarnitines were significantly lower in the high-AUC group than in the low-AUC group. Deferoxamine, an iron-chelating agent that lowers serum ferritin levels, was detected in the high-AUC group, indicating that those patients had high ferritin levels. Therefore, in a retrospective study of 130 paediatric patients, we confirmed our hypothesis that busulfan clearance (dose/AUC) and serum ferritin level has a negative correlation (r = -0.205, P = 0.019). Ferritin, acylcarnitine, and phenylacetylglutamine are associated with liver damage, including free radical formation, deregulation of hepatic mitochondrial β-oxidation, and hyperammonaemia. Our findings reveal potential biomarkers predictive of busulfan exposure and suggest that liver function may affect busulfan exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Area Under Curve
  • Biological Variation, Population
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Busulfan / administration & dosage*
  • Busulfan / pharmacokinetics*
  • Busulfan / urine
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Metabolome
  • Metabolomics*
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Ferritins
  • Busulfan