Pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics in breast cancer chemotherapy

Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer is typically treated with chemotherapy. Multiple combinations of chemotherapy regimens are available, including anthracyclines, taxanes, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, platinum drugs and vinca alkaloids. This review discusses the pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenomic information available for commonly used breast cancer chemotherapy drugs. Pharmacogenomic associations for many drugs have yet to be identified or validated in breast cancer. Further work is needed to identify markers to screen breast cancer patients prior to therapy selection.