title: On the pharmacogenetics of non-small cell lung cancer treatment.
abstract: Despite many clinical efforts, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a dismal 5-year survival rate of 16%, and high incidence of recurrence. The success of biologically targeted agents, as well as the activity of well-established chemotherapeutic regimens, has been limited by inherited/acquired resistance, and biomarkers to adapt the prescription of anticancer drugs to patients' features are urgently warranted. Areas covered. In oncology, pharmacogenetics should provide the way to select patients who may benefit from a specific therapy that best match the individual and tumor genetic profile, thus allowing maximum activity and minimal toxicity. The present review summarizes the main findings on NSCLC pharmacogenetics, critically reappraising the most important studies on polymorphisms correlated with outcome of pemetrexed and EGFR-inhibitors, and provides perspective on clinical application of genomic tests for treatment decision-making. Expert Opinion. A major challenge in NSCLC is the identification of subgroups of diseases/patients that will truly benefit from specific treatments. Ideally, convenient and minimally invasive tests to decipher biomarkers of chemosensitivity/resistance and toxicity should be developed alongside novel anticancer treatments. Integration with the latest generation of whole-genome analyses and liquid biopsies as well as prospective validation in large cohorts of patients will overcome the limitations of the traditional pharmacogenetic approaches.
authors.affiliation: a Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Mariacarmela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santarpia
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Oncology , Antwerp University Hospital , Antwerp , Belgium.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rolfo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Medical Oncology , VU University Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: d Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start-Up Unit , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Leticia G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.affiliation: c Department of Medical Oncology , VU University Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.|d Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start-Up Unit , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giovannetti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018579:Patient Selection; D000068437:Pemetrexed / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: EGFR inhibitors; lung cancer; methodological challenges; pemetrexed; pharmacogenetic studies