In vitro and in vivo phase II metabolism of combretastatin A-4: evidence for the formation of a sulphate conjugate metabolite

Xenobiotica. 2009 Feb;39(2):148-61. doi: 10.1080/00498250802566976.

Abstract

1. Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4), is a natural compound with a potent tubulin polymerization and cell growth inhibitor properties. For these reasons CA-4 is one of the most potent anti-vascular agents that shows strong cytotoxicity against a variety of human cancer cells, including multi-drug-resistant cancer cell lines. In order to complete the knowledge of metabolic fate of CA-4, the in vitro and in vivo phase II metabolism was investigated. 2. Both in incubation with rat and human liver S9 preparation in the presence of 39-phosphoadenosine-5 -phosphosulfate (PAPS) as a cofactor the formation of a previously no reported sulphate metabolite was demonstrated through liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) data and comparison with a synthetic reference sample. 3. In incubation of CA-4 using rat and human liver microsomes, the formation of CA-4 glucuronide was observed and chromatographic and mass spectral properties of the metabolite were achieved and compared with those of a synthetic reference sample. 4. Incubation of CA-4 with rat and human liver S9 preparation in the presence of uridine-5 -diphosphoglucuronic acid trisodium salt (UDPGA) and an beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form (NADPH)-regenerating system as cofactors resulted in the formation of glucuronides arising from phase I CA-4 metabolites. 5. When CA-4 was administered intraperitoneally to rat at a dose of 30 mg kg(-1), both glucuronide and sulphate metabolites were observed in LC-ESI-MS-MS chromatograms and their mass spectral data were identical to those obtained from synthetic standards.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Glucuronides / chemistry
  • Glucuronides / metabolism
  • Glucuronides / urine
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Stilbenes / chemistry
  • Stilbenes / metabolism*
  • Stilbenes / urine
  • Sulfates / chemistry
  • Sulfates / metabolism*
  • Sulfates / urine
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Urine / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Glucuronides
  • Stilbenes
  • Sulfates
  • fosbretabulin