Genetic tests in prediction of effectiveness and toxicity of chemotherapy in cancer patients

Czech version

Authors: B. Mladosievičová ¹; A. Fotlinová ²; M. Wawruch ³
Authors‘ workplace: Ústav patologickej fyziológie, Oddelenie klinickej patofyziológie Lekárskej fakulty UK, Bratislava, Slovenská republika prednosta prof. MUDr. Ivan Hulín, DrSc. ¹; Onkologické oddelenie DFNsP, Bratislava, Slovenská republika, prednosta doc. MUDr. Emília Kaiserová, CSc. ²; Farmakologický ústav Lekárskej fakulty UK, Bratislava, Slovenská republika, prednosta prof. MUDr. Milan Kriška, DrSc. ³
Published in: Vnitř Lék 2005; 51(5): 560-565
Category: Reviews

Overview

In few other fields of clinical practice is the role of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics more important than in anticancer therapy. Genetic alterations in drug metabolism enzyme genes or genes encoding transporters and target proteins can affect not only the toxicity, but also response to commonly used chemotherapy drugs. Gene polymorphisms can influence drug effectiveness and/or toxicity in subgroup of patients treated with 6-mercaptopurine, thioguanine, irinotecan, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and platinum chemotherapy. Knowledge regarding single candidate genes polymorphism might be less helpful for predicting potential toxicity and effectiveness of therapy than comprehensive polygenic approach considering combinations of polymorphisms in several genes encoding components in biological or pharmacological pathways.

Key words:
pharmacogenetics – genetic polymorphism – effectiveness – toxicity – chemotherapy

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