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Pharmacogenetics and cancer chemotherapy
1Committee on Clinical Pharmacology, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|January 20, 1999
Summary
Genetic variations in drug metabolism and action significantly impact cancer chemotherapy outcomes. Pharmacogenetic screening can identify patients at risk for adverse events or poor responses, optimizing cancer treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacogenetics
- Genetics
Background:
- Cancer chemotherapy efficacy varies greatly between individuals due to genetic differences.
- These variations stem from genetic alterations affecting drug metabolism (pharmacokinetic polymorphisms) and drug targets (pharmacodynamic polymorphisms).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of genetic polymorphisms in key enzymes within cancer therapy.
- To highlight the potential of pharmacogenetic screening for personalized cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on pharmacogenetic polymorphisms in cancer therapy.
- Discussion of specific enzyme systems including TPMT, DPD, ALDH, GST, UGTs, and CYP450.
Main Results:
- Genetic polymorphisms in enzymes like TPMT, DPD, ALDH, GST, UGTs, and CYP450 influence patient response and toxicity to chemotherapy.
- Pharmacogenetic screening can predict individual susceptibility to chemotherapy-related adverse events and treatment failure.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacogenetic screening holds significant promise for tailoring chemotherapy regimens to individual patients.
- Identifying predisposed populations can mitigate toxicity and improve therapeutic outcomes in cancer patients.