title: The host reaction to toxic agents.
abstract: The identification of side effects of chemotherapeutic and environmental agents has assumed a central role in current day medical practice. Since 1962, the formal recognition of the functional role of host factors in drug idiosyncrasies has resulted in the delineation of the discipline of pharmacogenetics. This investigative arena deals with inborn errors of metabolism which affect drug metabolizing enzymes or alter the effects of drugs in the body. In addition to relating to an understanding of the molecular basis of drug toxicity, these considerations are relevant to the teratologic role of alcohol and dilantin and to the role of environmental agents in the pathogenesis of neoplasia.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005823:Genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D007538:Isoniazid