Taxane pharmacogenetics

The taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel exert their anticancer activity by stabilizing microtubules during cell division. There is significant interindividual variability in response and toxicity between paclitaxel and docetaxel. Interpatient variability also exists for response and toxicity from each drug. Variability within genes involved in paclitaxel and/or docetaxel metabolism and transport exists. However, to date there is little evidence to suggest useful markers for the selection of individualized therapy. Epigenetic regulation of taxane pathway genes may play a large role in explaining the variability in toxicity and response.