Description
Irinotecan is one of the basic chemotherapy drugs for colorectal cancer. In combination with other drugs, it is actively used in the treatment of cervical cancer, gastric cancer, and brain tumors in children and adults.
Irinotecan therapy is associated with severe diarrhea and neutropenia in 20-35% of patients.
In tissues, the drug is metabolized to form the product SN-38, which exceeds Irinotecan in its activity.
The enzyme uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase, encoded by the UGT1A1 gene, participates in the metabolism of irinotecan.
With an increase in TA-repeats to 7 in the regulatory region of the UGT1A1 gene, the biotransformation of the active metabolite of irinotecan SN-38 is disrupted, and its accumulation in the body occurs.
Patients with such a genotype have a higher risk of developing toxic hematological effects (severe neutropenia), severe diarrhea, and other complications during irinotecan therapy.
Genetic study of UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms has clinical significance for predicting drug toxicity. Timely determination of sensitivity to the drug, depending on the result obtained, protects the patient from severe complications of chemotherapy or allows increasing the drug dose, which can increase treatment efficacy.
The test for determining individual tolerance to irinotecan should be performed before starting chemotherapy in patients with oncological diseases.
An increase in TA repeats also leads to the development of Gilbert's syndrome.
Examination results are issued with an interpretation by a geneticist.
Period of execution
Within 6 days. The specified time does not include the day of biomaterial collection
Biomaterial type