Pharmacogenomics of Paclitaxel in Ovarian Cancer: Predictors of Toxicity and Response

Paclitaxel is an antineoplastic drug used in the treatment of ovarian cancer. The effect and toxicity is unpredictable in the individual patient. Paclitaxel is removed (eliminated) from the organism by oxidation. CYP2C8 is the enzyme mainly responsible. P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is an efflux transport protein natural to the human organism. Pgp is responsible for excretion of drugs via the bile and the kidneys and is thought to play a role in chemotherapy resistance. Paclitaxel is substrate for Pgp. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are possible causes for variation in both CYP2C8 and Pgp expression/function. We will study a possible role of these genetic variations as predictors of paclitaxel toxicity and effect and the possible implications for individual dosing in the future.

We will use tissue from patients who participated in one of two clinical trials that are both closed for inclusion. Genotypic data from this tissue will be correlated with toxicity and survival data drawn from a research database. We expect to be able to find >300 available cases to study.