Role of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the metabolism of antineoplastic drugs]

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are very important to metabolize anticarcinogenic agents. Therefore, understanding the role of these enzymes and their allele variants in the bioactivation or detoxification of drugs could greatly benefit antineoplastic pharmacotherapy. The aim of this manuscript is to give information about metabolizing enzymes for antineoplastic agents and to relate the current situation, in, antitumoral pharmacotherapy with recent knowledge about cytochrome P450 enzymes. This is crucial for the future perspectives towards personalized pharmacotherapy. We summarize the role of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the resistance and bioactivation of several antitumor agents, their induction and repression mechanisms and the effect of genetic polymorphisms on variability of drug metabolization. The understanding of genetic variability will help to develop new research lines on innovative therapeutic possibilities (Rev Med Chile 2008; 136: 1327-35).