Determining the correct dosage for the majority of chemotherapeutic agents presents a challenge for clinicians because there is a fine balance between doses that cause significant drug toxicity and loss of efficacy. This Review discusses the current limitations of body surface area-based dosing, provides examples of successful pharmacogenomics investigations that have used drug-metabolizing enzymes to decrease drug toxicity or improve efficacy, and highlights promising advances in pharmacogenomic-directed pharmacotherapy.
- Christine M Walko
- Howard McLeod