[Biological principles of chemotherapy: cellular response as a result of its evolutionary memory]

The cell reaction to chemotherapy is based on certain general biological principles. The genetic structure of cell populations, their actual reaction to chemotherapy and the prognosis of their development are not accidental. They are determined by previous exposures to chemotherapeutic agents and thus their evolutional experience on Darwinian principles. Chemotherapy occurs always in a defined environment of the host with his active participation. A genetic variability in the host reaction to chemotherapeutic interference also exists and which in the long-term perspective is also of evolutional nature. The complex of evaluation of therapeutic procedures thus involves evaluation and influencing of the host and his variability (immunotherapy). Understanding of molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of disease, definition of specific genes, their expression, the role of their products and definition of possible targets of chemotherapy is at present a realistic goal of application of genomics and proteogenomics in medicine. The new philosophy in medicine is thus based on respecting individuality in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. We only can wish that the trend of respecting individuality will be applied in the future, and not only in medicine.