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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel
Published on: May 14, 2018
Gene single nucleotide polymorphism accumulation improves survival in advanced head and neck cancer patients treated
Juan J Grau1, Miguel Caballero, Marc Campayo
1Oncology Department, Institut Clinic de Malalties Hemato-Oncològiques, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Objectives/Hypothesis:
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of certain genes involved in drug metabolism correlate with survival.
Methods:
We evaluated the presence of SNPs in six genes (CYP2C8, GSTT1, GSTP1, MDR1-57, MDR1-62, and ERCC1) and the response rate (RR), time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) of advanced head and neck cancer patients treated with weekly paclitaxel.
Results:
SNPs in CYP2C8, MDR1-57, and MDR1-62 genes were more frequent than wild-type genes in our patients. RR was 45% (21/47), and median TTP in responders was 5.1 months. OS for all patients was 5.6 months. Response was higher in SNPs of MDR1-62, MDR1-57, or in two or more accumulated genes than in those with wild-type genes. OS was significantly longer in patients with two or more accumulated SNPs (P = .039).
Conclusions:
Response rate and OS were significantly higher in patients with two or more accumulated SNPs.
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