Exploring the roles of cytochrome P450 enzymes and their inhibitors in cancers and non-neoplastic human diseases.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are crucial for metabolizing various compounds, including therapeutic drugs. Metabolites generated through CYP-mediated pathways have been increasingly recognized as key contributors to the pathogenesis and progression of diverse diseases, particularly cancer. Consequently, ongoing research is examining Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs as potential inhibitors of specific CYP isoforms and characterizing their underlying mechanisms of action. These studies are essential for clarifying how approved drugs alter the metabolic pathways of co-administered agents, thereby influencing therapeutic efficacy and safety outcomes. CYP inhibitors significantly alter substrate metabolism, thereby increasing the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs). These interactions pose crucial challenges in clinical practice, necessitating careful evaluation when co-administering medications with similar metabolic pathways. Therefore, this review aims to examine the complex interplay among CYP inhibitors, their substrates, and DDIs in both cancers and non-neoplastic diseases, including allergies, depression, and stroke. The review seeks to minimize adverse outcomes and enhance therapeutic effectiveness by offering a comprehensive understanding of CYP inhibitors.