Malin Lindqvist

Pharmacogenetics during standardised initiation of thiopurine treatment in inflammatory bowel disease

Background: Firm recommendations about the way thiopurine drugs are introduced and the use of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) and metabolite measurements during treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are lacking. Aim: To evaluate pharmacokinetics and tolerance after initiation of thiopurine treatment with a fixed dosing schedule in patients with IBD. Patients: 60 consecutive patients with Crohn’s disease (n = 33) or ulcerative colitis (n = 27) were included in a 20 week open, prospective study. Methods: Thiopurine treatment was introduced using a predefined dose escalation schedule, reaching a daily target dose at week 3 of 2.5 mg azathioprine or 1.25 mg 6-mercaptopurine per kg body weight. TPMT and ITPA genotypes, TPMT activity, TPMT gene expression, and thiopurine metabolites were determined. Clinical outcome and occurrence of adverse events were monitored. Results: 27 patients completed the study per protocol, while 33 were withdrawn (early protocol violation (n = 5), TPMT deficiency (n = 1), thiopurine related adverse events (n = 27)); 67% of patients with adverse events tolerated long term treatment on a lower dose (median 1.32 mg azathioprine/kg body weight). TPMT activity did not change during the 20 week course of the study but a significant decrease in TPMT gene expression was found (TPMT/huCYC ratio; p = 0.02). Patients with meTIMP concentrations >11 450 pmol/8×108 red blood cells during steady state at week 5 had an increased risk of developing myelotoxicity (odds ratio = 45.0; p = 0.015). Conclusions: After initiation of thiopurine treatment using a fixed dosing schedule, no general induction of TPMT enzyme activity occurred, though TPMT gene expression decreased. The development of different types of toxicity was unpredictable, but we found that measurement of meTIMP early in the steady state phase helped to identify patients at risk of developing myelotoxicity.

Adverse events leading to modification of therapy in a large cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Adverse events leading to discontinuation or dose reduction of thiopurine therapy occur in 9–28% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Identification of two novel sequence variants affecting thiopurine methyltransferase enzyme activity.

The polymorphic enzyme thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is involved in the methylation of thiopurines. On comparing the phenotype with the genotype in Swedish patients with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy individuals, we found two discordant cases with low TPMT enzyme activity (0.3 and 0.4 U/ml packed red blood cells (pRBC). Genotyping by pyrosequencing revealed that they carried the nucleotide substitutions 460G>A and 719A>G, giving two possible genotypes (TPMT*1/*3A or TPMT*3B/*3C). DNA sequencing of exon III to X was performed in the patients and their parents. We identified an A>G transition in the start codon (exon III, 1A>G, Met>Val, TPMT*14) in one of the patients and her father (6.3 U/ml pRBC). The mother in this family carried the 460G>A and 719A>G nucleotide substitutions (TPMT*1/*3A; 5.0 U/ml pRBC). In the second family, sequencing revealed a G>A transition in the acceptor splice site in intron VII/exon VIII (IVS7 -1G>A, TPMT*15) in the patient and his mother (6.9 U/ml pRBC). His father was genotyped as TPMT*1/*3A (6.0 U/ml pRBC). Hence, we report the identification of two novel sequence variants, present in highly conserved nucleotide positions of the human TPMT gene, resulting in a loss of enzyme activity.

Explaining TPMT genotype/phenotype discrepancy by haplotyping of TPMT*3A and identification of a novel sequence variant, TPMT*23

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is a polymorphic enzyme involved in the metabolism of thiopurine drugs. Owing to polymorphisms in the TPMT gene (TPMT*2–*22), the enzyme activity varies interindividually. Patients with reduced TPMT activity may develop adverse reactions when treated with standard doses of thiopurines. This work focuses on a TPMT genotype/phenotype discrepancy found in a patient during routine testing. The patient displayed very low TPMT enzyme activity and she was genotyped by pyrosequencing as being heterozygous for the 460G>A and 719A>G polymorphisms (TPMT*3A). Complete sequencing in combination with haplotyping of the TPMT gene revealed a novel sequence variant, 500C>G, on one allele and TPMT*3A on the other allele, giving rise to the novel genotype TPMT*3A/*23. When investigating the patients relatives, they too had the TPMT*3A/*23 genotype in combination with low enzyme activity. We conclude that this novel variant allele affects enzyme activity, as the individuals carrying it had almost undetectable TPMT activity.

Failure of the PAXgene™ Blood RNA System to maintain mRNA stability in whole blood

Abstract In multicentre studies of malignant and inflammatory diseases, whole blood, cell or tissue samples are often collected for analyses of gene expression to predict or monitor treatment effects. For correct analysis, sample stability during handling and transport is crucial. In developing the logistics for multicentre studies in malignant melanoma and inflammatory bowel disease, we found poor stability of a number of transcripts using the PAXgene™ Blood RNA System, which was advertised to maintain RNA stability for several days at room temperature. The results indicate that general statements on sample stability are not reliable and have to be verified for the specific transcripts of interest.

No Induction of Thiopurine Methyltransferase During Thiopurine Treatment in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The aim of this study was to follow, during standardized initiation of thiopurine treatment, thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) gene expression and enzyme activity and thiopurine metabolite concentrations, and to study the role of TPMT and ITPA 94C > A polymorphisms for the development of adverse drug reactions. Sixty patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease were included in this open and prospective multi-center study. Thiopurine naïve patients were prescribed azathioprine (AZA), patients previously intolerant to AZA received 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP). The patients followed a predetermined dose escalation schedule, reaching target dose at Week 3; 2.5 and 1.25 mg/kg body weight for AZA and 6-MP, respectively. The patients were followed every week during Weeks 1–8 from baseline and then every 4 weeks until 20 weeks. TPMT activity and thiopurine metabolites were determined in erythrocytes, TPMT and ITPA genotypes, and TPMT gene expression were determined in whole blood. One homozygous TPMT-deficient patient was excluded. Five non compliant patients were withdrawn during the first weeks. Twenty-seven patients completed the study per protocol; 27 patients were withdrawn because of adverse events. Sixty-seven percent of the withdrawn patients tolerated thiopurines at a lower dose at Week 20. There was no difference in baseline TPMT enzyme activity between individuals completing the study and those withdrawn for adverse events (p = 0.45). A significant decrease in TPMT gene expression (TPMT/huCYC ratio, p = 0.02) was found, however TPMT enzyme activity did not change. TPMT heterozygous individuals had a lower probability of remaining in the study on the predetermined dose (p = 0.039). The ITPA 94C > A polymorphism was not predictive of adverse events (p = 0.35).

Thiopurines in Inflammatory Bowel Disease - The Role of Pharmacogenetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Pharmacogenetics represents the study of variability in drug response due to genetic variations. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, i.e. primarily Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis) is characterized by a chronic or relapsing inflammation of the digestive tract. The thiopurines 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA), an imidazol derivative and pro-drug of 6-MP, are widely used in IBD, particularly in Crohns disease. The metabolism of thiopurines is complex and individually variable. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is a key enzyme in this metabolism and exhibits a genetic variability due to a number of variant alleles coding for a defective enzyme. The formation of biologically active thioguanine nucleotides (TGN) and methylated metabolites may vary considerably due to the TPMT activity. Patients with decreased TPMT activity are at increased risk of developing severe side effects if treated with conventional thiopurine doses, due to the accumulation of toxic metabolites. Determination of the TPMT phenotype or genotype is often used to identify individuals with increased risk for adverse events. Twenty-one variant TPMT alleles have been described, of which three are more common than the others. An association between inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase polymorphisms and adverse events during thiopurine treatment has also been proposed. In this review, the clinical value of TPMT status determination and pharmacological monitoring of thiopurine metabolites are discussed as well as the increased interest in the use of 6-thioguanine, a thiopurine with a less complex metabolism, as an alternative for patients who do not tolerate AZA or 6-MP. It can be concluded that TPMT determination before start of thiopurine therapy is of value to identify individuals with increased risk for adverse reactions due to genetic enzyme deficiency. However, large prospective studies are still needed to evaluate the true benefit of monitoring thiopurine metabolites during thiopurine treatment.

Impaired transport as a mechanism of resistance to thiopurines in human T-lymphoblastic leukemia cells

In order to better understand the mechanisms of resistance to thiopurines, we studied two sublines of the MOLT4 T-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, resistant to 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG). We found that the underlying mechanism of resistance in both resistant cell lines was a markedly reduction in initial transport of 6-MP (3- and 5-fold, respectively, in 6-MP- and 6-TG-resistant cells). No significant alteration of activities of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase, thiopurine methyltransferase or inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, the key enzymes involved in the metabolism of thiopurines was detected. We conclude that defected initial transport of thiopurines by cells may very well explain their resistance to these drugs.