Relationship between the plasma fentanyl and serum 4β-hydroxycholesterol based on CYP3A5 genotype and gender in patients with cancer pain

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the concentrations of plasma fentanyl and serum 4β-hydroxycholesterol based on CYP3A5 genotype and gender in cancer patients. Thirty-three Japanese cancer patients treated with transdermal fentanyl were enrolled. The concentrations of plasma fentanyl and norfentanyl, and serum 4β-hydroxycholesterol and total cholesterol were determined at day 8 or later after starting the medication. The plasma fentanyl concentration was significantly higher in the CYP3A5*3/*3 group than in the *1 allele carrier group. The *3/*3 group had a lower metabolic ratio of fentanyl. The serum 4β-hydroxycholesterol concentration and its ratio to total cholesterol were significantly lower in the CYP3A5*3/*3 group than in the *1 allele carrier group. The concentrations of plasma fentanyl and serum 4β-hydroxycholesterol were significantly higher in women than in men. Gender did not affect the metabolic ratio of fentanyl or the concentration ratio of 4β-hydroxycholesterol. The plasma fentanyl concentration was not correlated with the serum 4β-hydroxycholesterol concentration, while the metabolic ratio of fentanyl was slightly correlated with the serum concentration ratio of 4β-hydroxycholesterol. In conclusion, CYP3A5*3 and gender affected the plasma fentanyl and serum 4β-hydroxycholesterol concentrations in cancer patients. However, the plasma disposition of fentanyl was not determined using the serum 4β-hydroxycholesterol concentration.