From Genes to Personalized Cancer Care: A Systematic Review of Toxicity-Associated Genetic Variants in Solid Tumor Treatments
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Background
Pharmacogenomics has emerged as a crucial tool in precision medicine, offering the potential to personalise cancer treatments by predicting and managing therapy-induced toxicities. This systematic review examined the genetic basis of toxicities associated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy in solid tumours.
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, and PharmKB databases, covering the period from December 2019 to July 2024. This review focused on genetic variants linked to different treatment-related toxicities, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, across various solid tumour types.
Results
The review primarily assessed immune-related adverse events and dermatologic, haematologic, neurological, and organ-specific toxicities (e.g. ototoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity). This review highlights single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) as essential genetic markers for identifying treatment-related toxicities. However, data on many SNVs remains limited, highlighting the need for further research and clinical validation. These findings suggest that the understanding of genetic factors that contribute to toxicity may support treatment decisions, optimise patient outcomes, and promote advances in the field of precision oncology.
Conclussion
The identification of specific genetic variants could prevent the use of expensive and ineffective treatments and guide the selection of patients most likely to benefit from a specific therapy. Here, we provide valuable insights into the current state of knowledge regarding the genetic basis of toxicity in solid tumour treatments and emphasise the importance of integrating pharmacogenomics into personalised cancer care. To enhance patient outcomes and reduce the economic burden of cancer treatment, further research must validate these genetic markers and integrate the findings into clinical practice, thereby avoiding ineffective treatments for patients.
