Assessing Non-adherence in South African Women on Tamoxifen Treatment for Breast Cancer

Date
2024-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
Introduction: Adherence to tamoxifen is a major challenge in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Endoxifen, tamoxifen’s main active metabolite, measured along with the parent drug, can be used as an adherence tool. A pilot study was undertaken to assess adherence in South African women by quantification of tamoxifen and endoxifen in plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Methods: The study recruited 20 oestrogen receptor-positive female breast cancer patients on tamoxifen. An adherence questionnaire was administered, clinical information collected, and plasma samples obtained for concentration measurement. A Shimadzu LCMS-8040 instrument was used to develop and validate a method to quantify tamoxifen and endoxifen in plasma. The transitions of tamoxifen and endoxifen: m/z 372 → 129; 91.1; 128 and m/z 374 → 223; 129; 152, respectively, were monitored in the positive ion mode. The LC-MS/MS method utilises an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column and mobile phases of 0.1% formic acid in water (A) and acetonitrile (B) at a flow rate of 0.600 mL/min, together with a protein precipitation (PP) extraction method. Results and Discussion: Participant ages ranged from 32-73 years. Most participants (60%) had stage 4 breast cancer, with others distributed across earlier stages. Tamoxifen was prescribed primarily as palliative treatment (60%), followed by curative (35%) and prophylactic (5%) uses. The sample consisted mostly of preand post-menopausal women (45% each). Regarding comorbidities, 45% had none, 40% had one, and 15% had two. Only 2/20 participants were HIV positive. Tamoxifen and endoxifen plasma concentrations ranged from 11.7-340 ng/mL and 3.64-34.2 ng/mL, respectively. Objective non-adherence was low (5%), while subjective non-adherence was higher (45%). This resulted in failure to reject the null hypothesis of weak agreement between subjective and objective adherence measures. The LC-MS/MS method had quadratic regression weighted calibration curves (1/c) with concentration ranges of 4.69-600 ng/mL and 1.56-200 ng/mL for tamoxifen and endoxifen, respectively. Both analytes were stable under various storage conditions. No matrix effects were observed, and haemolysis at 2.0% did not affect analyte quantification. Average recovery was 89.6% for tamoxifen and 96.8% for endoxifen, with process efficiencies of 92.8% and 75.7%, respectively. Intra- and inter-validations met EMA (2011), FDA (2018) and ICH (2022) guidelines. Calibration standard (STD) % accuracies ranged from 97.6-101.7% for tamoxifen and 97.1-104.5% for endoxifen. Quality control (QC) % accuracies ranged from 104.5-113.2% for tamoxifen and 105.3-110.0% for endoxifen. Both analytes were stable in plasma through three freeze/thaw cycles and on bench for 6 h. Autosampler and re-injection stability was demonstrated at 8.00°C for 24 h. Conclusion: An LC-MS/MS method was successfully validated and applied to a clinical study to assess adherence in South African breast cancer patients. Poor agreement between subjective and objective adherence measures was demonstrated, emphasising the importance of direct measures in adherence assessment. The study highlighted the need to consider the measurement of tamoxifen and endoxifen concentrations to assess adherence and to optimise tamoxifen treatment.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Nakoming van tamoxifen is ‘n groot uitdaging in pasiënte met hormoonreseptor-positiewe borskanker. Endoxifen, tamoxifen se aktiewe hoof metaboliet, wat gemeet word saam met die ouer dwelm, kan gebruik word as ‘n nakomingshulpmiddel. ‘n Pilootsudie was in werking gestel om nakoming te assesseer deur tamoxifen en endoxifen in plasma te kwantifiseer deur middel van vloeistofchromatografietandemmassaspektrometrie (LC-MS/MS). Metodes: Die studie het twintig estrogeenreseptor-positiewe vrouike borskanker deelnemers wat met tamoxifen behandel is, gewerf. Nakomingsvraelyste was geadministreer, kliniese inligting was ingesamel en plasma monsters was verkry vir konsentrasie-metings. ‘n Shimadzu LCMS-8040 instrument was gebruik om die oorgang van tamoxifen en endoxifen in die positiewe ion-modus [M+H] +: m/z 372 → 129; 91.1; 128 en m/z 374 → 223; 129; 152, onderskeidelik, te monitor. Die LC-MS/MS metode maak gebruik van n Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 kolom, en mobiele fases van 0.1% mieresuur in water (A) en acetonitrile (B) teen ‘n vloeitempo van 0.600 mL/min, saam met ‘n proteïenonttrekking metode. Resultate en Bespreking: Deelnemers ouderdomme was tussen 32 – 73 jaar. Meeste deelnemers (60%) het fase 4 borskanker gehad, met ander versprei oor vroeër fases. Tamoxifen was hoofsaaklik voorgeskryf as palliatiewe behandeling (60%), gevolg deur terapeutiese (35%) en profylaktiese (5%) gebruike. Die studie het meestal uit pre- en post-menopausale vroue bestaan (45% elk). Aangaande komorbiditeite, 45% het geen gehad nie, 40% het een gehad, en 15% het twee gehad. Slegs 2/20 pasiënte was HIV positief. Tamoxifen en endoxifen plasma konsentrasies het gewissel van 11.7 – 340 ng/mL en 3.64 – 34.2 ng/mL, onderskeidelik. Objektiewe nie-nakoming was laag (5%), terwyl subjektiewe nie-nakoming hoër was (45.0%). Dit het gelei tot die mislukking om die nul hipotese van swak ooreenstemming tussen subjektiewe en objektiewe toewydingsmaatreëls te verwerp. Die LC-MS/MS metode het ‘n kwadratiese regressie kalibrasiekromme (1/c) met ‘n konsentrasie reeks van 4.69-600 ng/mL en 1.56-200 ng/mL vir tamoxifen en endoxifen, onderskeidelik, bereik. Beide analiete was stabiel onder verskeie stoortoestande. Geen matriks effekte was waargeneem nie, en hemolise by 2.0% het geen invloed op analiet-kwantifikasie gehad nie. Gemiddelde ontrekkingspersentasie was 89.6% vir tamoxifen en 96.8% vir endoxifen, met proses doeltreffendhede van 92.8% en 75.7%, onderskeidelik. Intraen inter-validasies het voldoen aan FDA (2018), EMA (2011), en ICH (2022) aanvaardings vereistes. Kalibrasiestandaard % akkuraathede het van 97.6-101.7% vir tamoxifen en 97.1-104.5% vir endoxifen gewissel. Kwaliteitskontrole % akkuraathede het van 104.5-113.2% vir tamoxifen en 105.3-110.0% vir endoxifen gewissel. Beide analiete was stabiel in plasma na drie vries-ontdooi-siklusse en op die werksbank vir 6 ure. Die outomatiese monsternemer en herinspuiting stabiliteit is by 8.0°C vir 24 uur gedemonstreer. Gevolgtrekking: ‘n LC-MS/MS metode was suksesvol gevalideer en toegepas om nakoming by Suid-Afrikaanse borskanker deeleners te assesseer. Swak ooreenstemming tussen subjektiewe en objektiewe nakomings maatreëls is gedemonstreer, wat die belangrikheid van direkte meetings in nakomings-evauasies beklemtoon. Die studie het die noodskaaklikheid benadruk om tamoxifen en endoxifen konsentrasies te meet om nakoming en tamoxifen behandeling te optimaliseer.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
Keywords
Citation