Klin Farmakol Farm. 2012;26(3):123-125

Personalized medicine - anticipation of possibilities

Pavel Anzenbacher, Jana Nekvindová

Ústav molekulární a translační medicíny, LF UP v Olomouci

A large development in the field of biosciences and personalized medicine is ongoing during last decade. The technologies coming

along bring a more effective development of new drugs, improved diagnosis, earlier medical interventions and better therapeutical

outcomes together with an effective and economical spending of the material and financial resources which are more and more limited.

Examples of successful applications of personalized approach include e.g. diagnostics of mutations in genes of the EGFR pathway in

colon cancer, non-small cell lung carcinoma or malignant melanoma or screening for predisposition to hereditary cancers (mutations

in BRCA1 and 2, APC, MUTYH, TP53 and other genes) or obesity (dysfunction of a GPR120). Known examples of personalized approach

are those explaining altered drug metabolism in case of warfarin (CYP2C9 and VKORC1 gene), clopidogrel (CYP2C19), or azathioprine

(gene for TPMT). Further possibilities include finding right doses of antidepressants and antipsychotics based on CYP2D6 and CYP2C19

genotype; in near future, new genetic biomarkers are expected to be validated as e.g. UGT1A1 gene mutation leading to toxicity of

irinotecan. Progress in studies on genetic basis of diseases will result in progress in personalization of medicine and pharmacotherapy.

Keywords: personalized medicine, pharmacogenetics, diagnostics, molecular biology, individualized therapy

Published: November 1, 2012  Show citation