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Pharmacogenomics in Pediatric Oncology: Mitigating Adverse Drug Reactions While Preserving Efficacy

Abdelbaset A Elzagallaai1, Bruce C Carleton2,3,4, Michael J Rieder1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 3M7, Canada;

Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
|September 25, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Pharmacogenomics improves childhood cancer treatment safety and effectiveness. Understanding drug-gene interactions is key to overcoming chemotherapy side effects and treatment failures in pediatric oncology.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Pharmacogenomics
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Childhood cancer remains a significant cause of mortality in children over one year of age.
  • Advances in chemotherapy, including thiopurines, and optimized clinical trials have increased survival rates from 30% to over 80% since the 1960s.
  • Most childhood cancer survivors experience short- and long-term adverse effects from chemotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on the pharmacogenomics of cancer drug treatment in children.
  • To highlight statistically and clinically relevant drug-gene associations.
  • To elucidate the mechanistic basis of these associations for improved therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pharmacogenomic studies in pediatric cancer.
  • Analysis of drug-gene associations relevant to childhood cancer chemotherapy.
  • Synthesis of mechanistic data supporting therapeutic value.

Main Results:

  • Pharmacogenetics is crucial for predicting the safety and efficacy of cancer chemotherapy in children.
  • Identified drug-gene associations offer insights into managing adverse effects and optimizing dosing.
  • Understanding these interactions is vital for addressing treatment failures.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacogenomic insights are essential for personalized cancer drug treatment in children.
  • Further research into drug-gene associations can lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Personalized medicine approaches hold promise for improving outcomes in pediatric oncology.
Keywords:
adverse drug reactionschildhood cancerdrug safetypediatric oncologypharmacogeneticspharmacogenomics

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