The side‐effects after Taxotere® Treatment Affected by Polymorphism of Metabolic Enzymes in Taiwanese Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Breast cancer has been the leading cause of death among Taiwanese women as well as women all over the world. Taxotere® has demonstrated the benefits versus other chemotherapy drugs. Nevertheless, there are different degrees of side effects with the chemotherapy medication. When these side effects occur, they must be cautiously treated, otherwise, they may be fatal. Therefore, this research is to explore the associations of genetic polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes and the side effects of Taxotere® in Taiwanese breast cancer. Breast cancer patients initiating Taxotere® treatment were genotyped for metabolic enzymes to identify variability of side effects. Fifty‐nine Taiwanese women treated for breast cancer were recruited. The polymorphisms of gene for metabolic enzymes were determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction products and the restriction enzymes. Based on this study, therefore, it is clinically beneficial for physicians to evaluate in advance the likelihood of the occurrence of side effects due to the application of Taxotere® by screening the genetic polymorphisms of their patients.