This is one of the largest multicentered, cohort studies conducted to evaluate the proinflammatory biomarkers associated with cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients. While elevated interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β were observed in patients with poorer response speed performance and perceived cognitive disturbances, IL-4 may be protective against chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Tamoxifen is metabolized to active metabolites, 4‐hydroxytamoxifen and endoxifen, by multiple cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes including CYP2D6, CYP3A4/5, CYP2C9/19, CYP1A2 and CYP2B6.• The steady‐state plasma concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites can be affected by variations in the activity of these enzymes.• Although CYP2D6*4 and *10 have been shown to influence the plasma concentration of endoxifen in Caucasian and Korean patients respectively, there is still a paucity of data on CYP2D6 pharmacogenetics in other Orientals such as Chinese, Malays and Indians.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• Pharmacogenetic analyses of a comprehensive panel of CYP2D6 polymorphisms (*2, *2A, *3, *4, *5, *6, *7, *8, *9, *10, *12, *14, *17, *29, *41 and *xN) were performed in three distinct Asian ethnic groups and breast cancer patients with CYP2D6*5 and *10 found to be highly prevalent.• Both CYP2D6*5 and *10 were significantly associated with lower endoxifen and higher N‐desmethyltamoxifen concentrations as well as a lower rate of metabolic conversion of N‐desmethyltamoxifen to endoxifen.• Polymorphisms present in CYP3A5, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 were not found to be significantly associated with plasma concentrations of analytes suggesting that these enzymes may be playing minor roles in the metabolic pathway of tamoxifen compared with CYP2D6.AIM To investigate the impact of genetic polymorphisms in CYP2D6, CYP3A5, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its metabolites in Asian breast cancer patients.METHODS A total of 165 Asian breast cancer patients receiving 20 mg tamoxifen daily and 228 healthy Asian subjects (Chinese, Malay and Indian; n= 76 each) were recruited. The steady‐state plasma concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites were quantified using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The CYP2D6 polymorphisms were genotyped using the INFINITI™ CYP450 2D6I assay, while the polymorphisms in CYP3A5, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 were determined via direct sequencing.RESULTS The polymorphisms, CYP2D6*5 and *10, were significantly associated with lower endoxifen and higher N‐desmethyltamoxifen (NDM) concentrations. Patients who were *1/*1 carriers exhibited 2.4‐ to 2.6‐fold higher endoxifen concentrations and 1.9‐ to 2.1‐fold lower NDM concentrations than either *10/*10 or *5/*10 carriers (P < 0.001). Similarly, the endoxifen concentrations were found to be 1.8‐ to 2.6‐times higher in *1/*5 or *1/*10 carriers compared with *10/*10 and *5/*10 carriers (P≤ 0.001). Similar relationships were observed between the CYP2D6 polymorphisms and metabolic ratios of tamoxifen and its metabolites. No significant associations were observed with regards to the polymorphisms in CYP3A5, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19.CONCLUSIONS The present study in Asian breast cancer patients showed that CYP2D6*5/*10 and *10/*10 genotypes are associated with significantly lower concentrations of the active metabolite of tamoxifen, endoxifen. Identifying such patients before the start of treatment may be useful in optimizing therapy with tamoxifen. The role of CYP3A5, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 seem to be minor.

BackgroundBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin that regulates neuronal function and development, is implicated in several neurodegenerative conditions. Preliminary data suggest that a reduction of BDNF concentrations may lead to postchemotherapy cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs6265) of the BDNF gene may predispose patients to cognitive impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of BDNF gene polymorphism on chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment.MethodsOverall, 145 patients receiving chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer (mean age: 50.8 ± 8.8 y; 82.1% Chinese) were recruited. Patients' cognitive functions were assessed longitudinally using the validated Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognitive Function (v.3) and an objective computerized tool, Headminder. Genotyping was performed using Sanger sequencing. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and cognition after adjusting for ethnicity and clinically important covariates.ResultsOf the 145 patients, 54 (37%) reported cognitive impairment postchemotherapy. The Met/Met genotype was associated with statistically significant lower odds of developing cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08–0.92; P = .036). The Met carriers were less likely to experience impairment in the domains of verbal fluency (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12–0.90; P = .031) and multitasking ability (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.15–0.91; P = .030) compared with the Val/Val homozygote. No associations were observed between Headminder and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.ConclusionsThis is the first study to provide evidence that carriers of the BDNF Met allele are protected against chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment. Further studies are required to validate the findings.