Pharmacoepigenetics: Its Role in Interindividual Differences in Drug Response

Pharmacoepigenetics potentially offers another level of explanation for interindividual variations in drug response that cannot be accounted for on the basis of genetic polymorphism. Many genes encoding enzymes, drug transporters, transcription factors, drug targets, and nuclear receptors are under epigenetic control. In addition, microRNAs (miRNAs) that govern the expression of these genes have recently been identified. This finding has implications, for example, in the context of drug resistance during cancer treatment. In this overview, we summarize the field, which is still in its infancy. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2009); 85, 4, 426–430 doi:10.1038/clpt.2009.2