Should CYP2D6 inhibitors be administered in conjunction with tamoxifen?

Abstract

Tamoxifen has been used for the treatment or prevention of recurrence in patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers. Because CYP2D6 is known to be a key enzyme responsible for the generation of an active tamoxifen metabolite, ‘endoxifen’, some studies reported that genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6 that reduced its enzyme activity or coadministration of CYP2D6 inhibitors were associated with the poor clinical outcomes of breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen. However, there are some discrepant reports for the association between CYP2D6 genotype and clinical outcomes of tamoxifen therapy, probably because of the heterogeneity in sample collection or analysis, including differences in regimen of tamoxifen treatment. A review of published reports regarding the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics and/or efficacy of tamoxifen found that concurrent use of strong CYP2D6 inhibitors, especially paroxetine, and possibly others, should be avoided in patients receiving tamoxifen therapy, but there has not been enough evidence for the effects of weak or moderate inhibitors.