Haplotype analysis of ABCB1/MDR1 blocks in a Japanese population reveals genotype-dependent renal clearance of irinotecan

We performed comprehensive haplotyping of ABCB1/MDR1 gene blocks using 49 genetic polymorphisms, including seven novel ones, obtained from 145 Japanese subjects. The ABCB1/MDR1 gene was divided into four blocks (Blocks -1, 1, 2, and 3) based on linkage disequilibrium analysis of polymorphisms. Using an expectation-maximization based program, 1, 2, 8, and 3 haplotype groups (3, 12, 32, and 18 haplotypes) were identified in Blocks -1, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Within Block 2, haplotype groups *1, *2, *4, *6, and *8 reported by Kim and colleagues (Clin Pharmacol Ther 2001; 70:189-199) were found, and additional three groups (*9 to *11) were newly defined. We analyzed the association of haplotypes with the renal clearance of irinotecan and its metabolites in 49 Japanese cancer patients given irinotecan intravenously. There was a significant association of the *2 haplotype in Block 2, which includes 1236C>T, 2677G>T and 3435C>T, with a reduced renal clearance of those compounds. Moreover, tendencies of reduced and increased renal clearance were also observed with *1f in Block 2 and *1b in Block 3, respectively. These findings suggest that the P-glycoprotein encoded by ABCB1/MDR1 in the proximal tubules plays a substantial role in renal exclusion of drugs and, moreover, that block-haplotyping is valuable for pharmacogenetic studies.