Cancer pharmacogenomics: achievements in basic research.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genetic inheritance influences the responses to drugs. Genetic polymorphisms in drug-metabolizing enzymes result in altered pharmacokinetics in therapeutic drugs. In recent years, there has been great progress in our knowledge of the effects of cytochrome P450 (CYP) polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of therapeutic drugs. CYP enzymes catalyze the activation or detoxification of several anticancer drugs. Anticancer drugs generally have a narrow therapeutic margin. Therefore, the interindividual variability in their efficacy and toxicity is a major problem in clinical practice. In this review, genetic polymorphisms of CYP enzymes and their clinical relevance in cancer chemotherapy are discussed.