Abstract
Drug responses and adverse side effects vary widely among individuals. Researchers have focused on genetic polymorphisms that encode drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and drug receptors, as the chief causes of the variations in drug responses. Personalized drug therapy involves analysis of genetic polymorphisms associated with drug responses before drug administration and the selection of drugs and doses according to individual genetic backgrounds. Establishment of personalized drug therapy is expected to contribute to medical economy through avoidance of wasteful drug administration. For the promotion of such medical practice, the use of simple genetic testing that is clinically convenient is necessary. Currently, genetic testing using real-time polymerase chain reaction is frequently employed in laboratories and its clinical application is expected. Regarding the many genes involved in drug responses, to date, the application of patient genetic information to personalized drug therapy has been achieved at a practical level. Information on pharmacogenomics will be critical in medical practice in the near future.
