Stem cell pharmacogenomics: a reality check on stem cell therapy.

Widespread applications of stem cell-based therapies in the clinic are being reported, yet there is a surprising lack of resolution of the factors that lead to failure of such therapies on a long-term basis. While classical pharmacogenomics aids the prediction of drug responses in an individual based on genetic variation and pharmacological responses, stem cell therapy involves an additional dimension of host-donor cell interactions and adaptability. We propose the development of concise guidelines based on pharmacogenetic and donor/host-related cellular factors studied more extensively in larger data sets, and used in prospective studies to individualize stem cell therapy.