Foreword

Article Outline

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Advances in molecular genetics are profoundly influencing our treatment of malignant neoplasms. Understanding the changes involved in the development of human cancers as well as the genetic factors influencing drug action ultimately will have immense clinical relevance. Nowhere is this more evident than in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. Pharmacogenomic variability can profoundly alter the pharmacological behavior of small molecules and biological therapies used to treat this common malignancy. The promise and hope inherent in this area of scientific investigation is that future therapies will be tailored to fit an individual’s specific molecular profile. Currently, most treatment regimens are recommended uniformly across the board for all patients with a specific diagnosis. Further advances in clinical medicine will be heralded by our ability to individualize cancer therapy and thereby maximize its safety and efficacy. Although not yet commonplace in cancer medicine, concrete examples of this approach undoubtedly will increase in frequency as the pace of scientific progress accelerates. The outstanding review presented here by Drs. Kruzelock and Short highlights the current state of knowledge of pharmacogenomics in colorectal cancer therapeutics, and expounds on the important clinical application of this field over the next few years.