Objectives/hypothesis: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of certain genes involved in drug metabolism correlate with survival.
Methods: We evaluated the presence of SNPs in six genes (CYP2C8, GSTT1, GSTP1, MDR1-57, MDR1-62, and ERCC1) and the response rate (RR), time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) of advanced head and neck cancer patients treated with weekly paclitaxel.
Results: SNPs in CYP2C8, MDR1-57, and MDR1-62 genes were more frequent than wild-type genes in our patients. RR was 45% (21/47), and median TTP in responders was 5.1 months. OS for all patients was 5.6 months. Response was higher in SNPs of MDR1-62, MDR1-57, or in two or more accumulated genes than in those with wild-type genes. OS was significantly longer in patients with two or more accumulated SNPs (P = .039).
Conclusions: Response rate and OS were significantly higher in patients with two or more accumulated SNPs.