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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2014; 20(29): 9775-9827
Published online Aug 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9775
Pharmacogenetics research on chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer over the last 20 years
Mariusz Panczyk
Mariusz Panczyk, Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Pharmacogenomics, Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
Mariusz Panczyk, Division of Teaching and Outcomes of Education, Faculty of Health Science, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
Author contributions: Panczyk M designed and wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Mariusz Panczyk, PharmD, PhD, Division of Teaching and Outcomes of Education, Faculty of Health Science, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland. mariusz.panczyk@wum.edu.pl
Telephone: +48-225-720490 Fax: +48-225-720491
Received: September 28, 2013
Revised: January 17, 2014
Accepted: April 21, 2014
Published online: August 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Insufficient effectiveness of chemotherapy is still the most important factor limiting the successful treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Drug resistance in anticancer therapy has been recognized virtually from the very beginning, as cytostatic drugs were first used in oncology practice. Intensive research on the causes of low sensitivity in colorectal cancer cells to such drugs as fluoropyrimidines, irinotecan and oxaliplatin, has resulted in evidence on the importance of genetic factors in phenotype conditioning of drug resistance. This review is a synthetic presentation of drug resistance in the context of its role in chemotherapy, and the potential clinical use of different biomarkers in individualization of CRC patient treatment.