Anti-Cancer Drug Side Effect Cause Found

U.S. scientists say a specific mutation prevents the liver from eliminating a particular anti-cancer drug, allowing it to cause troublesome side effects.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital investigators say their discovery offers clinicians a way to identify patients who are likely to develop diarrhea as a side effect from taking such drugs.

The researchers say their study’s findings also have implications for people taking other drugs, since the liver also controls the blood levels of many of the prescription drugs on the market.

The study is said to be the first to show a specific gene mutation disables the protein called ABCG2, preventing it from disposing of such drugs. Researchers said the mutation, a type of alteration called a single nucleotide polymorphism, is designated 421C>A in reference to the specific change in one of the DNA building blocks of the gene.

The research is detailed in the current issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.