Pharmacokinetics of hydralazine, an antihypertensive and DNA-demethylating agent, using controlled-release formulations designed for use in dosing schedules based on the acetylator phenotype
A. Gonzalez-Fierro1, D. Vasquez-Bahena1, L. Taja-Chayeb1, S. Vidal1, C. Trejo-Becerril1, E. Pérez-Cardenas1, E. de la Cruz-Hernández1, A. Chávez-Blanco1, O. Gutiérrez1, D. Rodriguez2, Z. Fernandez2, A. Duenas-González
1 Division of Basic Research, Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia, 2 CIDAT, SA. de C.V., and 3 Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIB), Universidad Nacional Autonóma de Mexico (UNAM), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, ISSEMYM Cancer Center, Toluca, Estado de México, México
DOI 10.5414/CP201526
Abstract
Purpose: The antihypertensive hydralazine has recently been repositioned as DNA demethylating for the epigenetic therapy of cancer. As the acetylator phenotype is the key determinant of its plasma levels, the dose of hydralazine needs to be adjusted for the acetylation status of patients. Methods: The pharmacokinetics of orally administered hydralazine was evaluated in 26 healthy volunteers (13 slow and 13 fast acetylators) after a single dose of 182 mg administered as a controlled-release tablet. Plasma levels of hydralazine were analyzed in 85 cancer patients treated with this formulation at a dose of 83 mg/day and 182 mg/day for slow and fast acetylators, respectively. Results: The Cmax and tmax of hydralazine for fast acetylators were 208.4 ± 56.9 SD ng/ml and 2.8 ± 2.5 h, respectively. The corresponding results for slow acetylators were 470.4 ± 162.8 ng/ml, and 4.4 ± 3.1 h. Healthy volunteers who were fast acetylators had no clinically significant changes in blood pressure and heart rate or any other side-effect, however, slow acetylators had transient episodes of headache, tachycardia and faintness. Among 85 cancer patients that received either 182 mg or 83 mg of hydralazine daily, according to their acetylator status, the mean concentrations of hydralazine in plasma were 239.1 ng/ml and 259.2 ng/ml for fast and slow acetylators, respectively. These differences were not significantly different, p = 0.3868. Conclusions: The administration of dose-adjusted controlled-release hydralazine according to the acetylation status of cancer patients yields similar levels of hydralazine.
Author Details
Authors
Departments
- 1 Division of Basic Research, Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia,
- 2 CIDAT, SA. de C.V., and
- 3 Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIB), Universidad Nacional Autonóma de Mexico (UNAM), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, ISSEMYM Cancer Center, Toluca, Estado de México, México
Address
A. Duenas-González, MD, PhD
Primer piso, Edificio de Investigación
San Fernando 22
Tlalpan 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
Email:
[email protected]
Citation
A. Gonzalez-Fierro, D. Vasquez-Bahena, L. Taja-Chayeb, S. Vidal, C. Trejo-Becerril, E. Pérez-Cardenas, E. de la Cruz-Hernández, A. Chávez-Blanco, O. Gutiérrez, D. Rodriguez, Z. Fernandez and A. Duenas-González.Pharmacokinetics of hydralazine, an antihypertensive and DNA-demethylating agent, using controlled-release formulations designed for use in dosing schedules based on the acetylator phenotype. 2011; 49: 519-524. doi: 10.5414/CP201526.
