In this article, we will discuss Cabazitaxel (Mechanism of Action). So, let’s get started.
Mechanism of Action
Cabazitaxel is a microtubule inhibitor. Cabazitaxel binds to tubulin and promotes its assembly into microtubules while simultaneously inhibiting disassembly. This leads to the stabilization of microtubules, which results in the inhibition of mitotic and interphase cellular functions.
Pharmacodynamics
Cabazitaxel demonstrated antitumor activity against advanced human tumors xenografted in mice. Cabazitaxel is active in docetaxel-sensitive tumors. In addition, cabazitaxel demonstrated activity in tumor models insensitive to chemotherapy including docetaxel.
Pharmacokinetics
A population pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted in 170 patients with solid tumors at doses ranging from 10 to 30 mg/m2 weekly or every three weeks.
Absorption
Based on the population pharmacokinetic analysis, after an intravenous dose of cabazitaxel 25 mg/m² every three weeks, the mean Cmax in patients with metastatic prostate cancer was 226 ng/mL (CV 107%) and was reached at the end of the one-hour infusion (Tmax). The mean
AUC in patients with metastatic prostate cancer was 991 ng•h/mL (CV 34%).
No major deviation from the dose proportionality was observed from 10 to 30 mg/m² in patients with advanced solid tumors.
Distribution
The volume of distribution (Vss) was 4,864 L (2,643 L/m² for a patient with a median BSA of 1.84 m²) at steady state.
In vitro, the binding of cabazitaxel to human serum proteins was 89 to 92% and was not saturable up to 50,000 ng/mL, which covers the maximum concentration observed in clinical trials. Cabazitaxel is mainly bound to human serum albumin (82%) and lipoproteins (88% for HDL, 70% for LDL, and 56% for VLDL). The in vitro blood-to-plasma concentration ratio in human blood ranged from 0.90 to 0.99, indicating that cabazitaxel was equally distributed between blood and plasma.
Metabolism
Cabazitaxel is extensively metabolized in the liver (> 95%), mainly by the CYP3A4/5 isoenzyme (80% to 90%), and to a lesser extent by CYP2C8. Cabazitaxel is the main circulating moiety in human plasma. Seven metabolites were detected in plasma (including the 3 active metabolites issued from O-demethylation), with the main one accounting for 5% of cabazitaxel exposure. Around 20 metabolites of cabazitaxel are excreted into human urine and feces. Based on in vitro studies, the potential for cabazitaxel to inhibit drugs that are substrates of other CYP isoenzymes (1A2,-2B6,-2C9, -2C8, -2C19, -2E1, -2D6, and 3A4/5) is low. In addition, cabazitaxel did not induce CYP isozymes in vitro.
Elimination
After a one-hour intravenous infusion [14C]-cabazitaxel 25 mg/m², approximately 80% of the administered dose was eliminated within 2 weeks. Cabazitaxel is mainly excreted in the feces as numerous metabolites (76% of the dose); while renal excretion of cabazitaxel and metabolites account for 3.7% of the dose (2.3% as unchanged drug in urine). Based on the population pharmacokinetic analysis, cabazitaxel has a plasma clearance of 48.5 L/h (CV 39%; 26.4 L/h/m² for a patient with a median BSA of 1.84 m²) in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Following a one-hour intravenous infusion, plasma concentrations of cabazitaxel can be described by a three-compartment pharmacokinetic model with α-, β-, and γ-half-lives of 4 minutes, 2 hours, and 95 hours, respectively