Characterization of letrozole in human hair using LC-MS/MS and confirmation by LC-HRMS: Application to a doping case. 2021

Alice Ameline, and Laurie Gheddar, and Jean-Sébastien Raul, and Pascal Kintz
Institut de médecine légale, 11 rue Humann, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: ameline.alice@gmail.com.

Letrozole is a reversible aromatase inhibitor, used in the treatment of hormone-dependent woman cancer. No indication for medical use is available for men. In recent years, several cases of doping with letrozole have been observed, especially among high level athletes. Aromatase inhibitors reverse the harmful effects (feminizing) of the abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids. Letrozole is included on the list of products prohibited in- and out-competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency, under section S4.1. The aim of the present work was to develop a specific method to identify letrozole in human hair of a male amateur athlete by LC-MS/MS and confirmation by LC-HRMS, after incubation of 20 mg of matrix in 1 mL of methanol. The chromatographic separation was performed using a reverse phase column HSS C18 with a gradient elution of 15 min (from 87% to 5% of formate buffer adjusted to pH 3). Linearity was observed from 1 to 1000 pg/mg (r2 = 0.9999), after spiking blank hair with the corresponding amounts of letrozole. The limit of detection was estimated at 0.5 pg/mg and the lower limit of quantification was the first point of the calibration curve, i.e. 1 pg/mg. The precision was lower than 20% and there was no interference with the analytes by chemicals or any extractable endogenous materials present in hair. Letrozole was identified in the male amateur athlete hair at 310 pg/mg (segment 0-2 cm) and 245 pg/mg (segment 2-4 cm).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D002851 Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid Liquid chromatographic techniques which feature high inlet pressures, high sensitivity, and high speed. Chromatography, High Performance Liquid,Chromatography, High Speed Liquid,Chromatography, Liquid, High Pressure,HPLC,High Performance Liquid Chromatography,High-Performance Liquid Chromatography,UPLC,Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography,Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid,High-Performance Liquid Chromatographies,Liquid Chromatography, High-Performance
D004300 Doping in Sports Illegitimate use of substances for a desired effect in competitive sports. It includes humans and animals. Blood Doping,Sports Blood Doping,Blood Doping, Sports,Blood Dopings,Blood Dopings, Sports,Doping in Sport,Doping, Blood,Dopings, Blood,Dopings, Sports Blood,Sport, Doping in,Sports Blood Dopings,Sports, Doping in,in Sport, Doping,in Sports, Doping
D006197 Hair A filament-like structure consisting of a shaft which projects to the surface of the SKIN from a root which is softer than the shaft and lodges in the cavity of a HAIR FOLLICLE. It is found on most surfaces of the body. Fetal Hair,Hair, Fetal,Lanugo,Fetal Hairs,Hairs,Hairs, Fetal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077289 Letrozole A triazole and benzonitrile derivative that is a selective non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor, similar to ANASTROZOLE. It is used in the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. 4,4'-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl-methylene)-bis(benzonitrile),CGS 20267,CGS-20267,Femara,Fémara,CGS20267
D015203 Reproducibility of Results The statistical reproducibility of measurements (often in a clinical context), including the testing of instrumentation or techniques to obtain reproducible results. The concept includes reproducibility of physiological measurements, which may be used to develop rules to assess probability or prognosis, or response to a stimulus; reproducibility of occurrence of a condition; and reproducibility of experimental results. Reliability and Validity,Reliability of Result,Reproducibility Of Result,Reproducibility of Finding,Validity of Result,Validity of Results,Face Validity,Reliability (Epidemiology),Reliability of Results,Reproducibility of Findings,Test-Retest Reliability,Validity (Epidemiology),Finding Reproducibilities,Finding Reproducibility,Of Result, Reproducibility,Of Results, Reproducibility,Reliabilities, Test-Retest,Reliability, Test-Retest,Result Reliabilities,Result Reliability,Result Validities,Result Validity,Result, Reproducibility Of,Results, Reproducibility Of,Test Retest Reliability,Validity and Reliability,Validity, Face
D015813 Substance Abuse Detection Detection of drugs that have been abused, overused, or misused, including legal and illegal drugs. Urine screening is the usual method of detection. Drug Abuse Testing,Illicit Drug Testing,Street Drug Testing,Substance Abuse Testing,Drug Abuse Detection,Drug Abuse Screening,Illicit Drug Detection,Street Drug Detection,Detection, Drug Abuse,Detection, Illicit Drug,Detection, Street Drug,Detection, Substance Abuse,Detections, Drug Abuse,Detections, Illicit Drug,Detections, Street Drug,Detections, Substance Abuse,Drug Abuse Detections,Drug Abuse Screenings,Drug Abuse Testings,Drug Testing, Illicit,Drug Testings, Illicit,Illicit Drug Detections,Illicit Drug Testings,Screening, Drug Abuse,Screenings, Drug Abuse,Street Drug Detections,Street Drug Testings,Substance Abuse Detections,Substance Abuse Testings,Testing, Drug Abuse,Testing, Illicit Drug,Testing, Street Drug,Testing, Substance Abuse,Testings, Drug Abuse,Testings, Illicit Drug,Testings, Street Drug,Testings, Substance Abuse
D016014 Linear Models Statistical models in which the value of a parameter for a given value of a factor is assumed to be equal to a + bx, where a and b are constants. The models predict a linear regression. Linear Regression,Log-Linear Models,Models, Linear,Linear Model,Linear Regressions,Log Linear Models,Log-Linear Model,Model, Linear,Model, Log-Linear,Models, Log-Linear,Regression, Linear,Regressions, Linear
D053719 Tandem Mass Spectrometry A mass spectrometry technique using two (MS/MS) or more mass analyzers. With two in tandem, the precursor ions are mass-selected by a first mass analyzer, and focused into a collision region where they are then fragmented into product ions which are then characterized by a second mass analyzer. A variety of techniques are used to separate the compounds, ionize them, and introduce them to the first mass analyzer. For example, for in GC-MS/MS, GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY is involved in separating relatively small compounds by GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY prior to injecting them into an ionization chamber for the mass selection. Mass Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry,Mass Spectrometry Mass Spectrometry,Mass Spectrometry, Tandem

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