Availability of Pharmacogenetic and Pharmacogenomic Information in Anticancer Drug Monographs in France: Personalized Cancer Therapy

AIM: To determine the availability of pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic information for healthcare professionals in France during 2009 for anticancer drugs. MATERIALS & METHODS: We searched in the informatic version of the VIDAL dictionary which is currently used by healthcare professionals in France. We then compared this with data available in the PubMed database. RESULTS: Among the 109 anticancer molecules available in France during 2009, 13 have pharmacogenomic or pharmacogenetic information in their monographs. In the scientific literature, we found numerous pharmacogenomic and pharmacogenetic biomarkers concerning 43 of the 109 anticancer agents. Some are pharmacogenomic biomarkers related to drug effectiveness, others are pharmacogenetic biomarkers related to drug toxicity. CONCLUSION: We believe that the lack of pharmacogenomic and pharmacogenetic information in drug monographs reflects the relative newness of the discipline. However, pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics can offer valuable information for improving the safety of drugs, reducing toxicity and predicting nonresponders. The drugs might then be incorporated into clinical practice through several strategies, including increased drug labeling and better education of healthcare professionals.