Role of single nucleotide polymorphisms in multiple myeloma

Pharmacogenetic studies have shown that polymorphisms of drug metabolizing enzymes, transporters and receptors contribute to drug response variability. Owing to the complexity of drug actions, a broader genomics approach aims at finding new drug targets and optimizing therapy for the individual patient30. In a pharmacogenetic prospective, the present study examined the correlation between the outcome of MM patients (in terms of therapy response and survival) after VAD induction therapy and PBSCT and the presence of genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism (GSTP1 and NQO1), folate transport (SLC19A1), DNA synthesis (TYMS) and multidrug resistance (MDR1). Furthermore we evaluated the role of MDR1 in relapsed multiple myeloma treated with bortezomib