The C-7 chiral centre in paclitaxel is subject to epimerization under physiological conditions, thus making 7-epi-paclitaxel as the principal degradant. This study was designed to characterize the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes involved in 7-epi-paclitaxel metabolism, and to examine possible metabolic interactions that this C-7 epimer may have with paclitaxel. In human liver microsomes, 7-epi-paclitaxel was oxidized to two monohydroxylated metabolites while the metabolic sites occurred at the C-13 side-chain for M-1 and taxane core ring for M-2. A combination of correlation analysis, chemical inhibition studies, assays with recombinant CYPs, and enzyme kinetics indicated that M-1 was generated predominantly by CYP3A4 and M-2 by CYP2C8. Co-incubation of 7-epi-paclitaxel with paclitaxel in human liver microsomes resulted in potent inhibition of 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel formation (IC((50)) = 2.1 +/- 0.2 muM), thus decreasing the metabolic elimination of paclitaxel. In conclusion, both CYP3A4 and CYP2C8 play a major role in biotransformation of 7-epi-paclitaxel in human liver microsomes. The existence of epimeric interactions between paclitaxel and its degradant might be a noteworthy factor resulting in the complex pharmacokinetic profile of paclitaxel.

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Taxanes exhibit a high tendency to epimerize at C-7 under physiological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the composite effect of C-7 configuration and other substructural elements on the metabolic properties of taxanes. Cephalomannine, 7-epi-cephalomannine, 10-deacetyl-paclitaxel, and 7-epi-10-deacetyl-paclitaxel were chosen as model compounds. In human liver microsomes, 7-epi-cephalomannine was subject to C-13 lateral chain (M-1) and diterpenoid core monohydroxylation (M-2), mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and CYP2C8, respectively. However, only one 7-epi-10-deacetyl-paclitaxel metabolite (M), monohydroxylated at taxane ring by CYP2C8, was detected. In comparison with cephalomannine, the catalytic efficiency of CYP2C8 for 7-epi-cephalomannine was about five-fold higher due to the decreased K(m). Although CYP2C8 showed a high capacity for metabolizing 7-epi-10-deacetyl-paclitaxel, 10-deacetyl-paclitaxel was hardly metabolized under the identical incubation conditions. In conclusion, C-7 configuration represents one of the most important structural determinants in taxanes metabolism.