"The elevated presence of microRNA 451 improves the response to chemoradiotherapy treatment and increases the survival of patients with stomach cancer", explains Dr. Jesús García-Foncillas, researcher principal of the laboratory of Pharmacogenomics of the research center Applied Medicine (CIMA) and director of Oncology of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. This is one of the results that will be presented at the IV congress of the Spanish Society of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics, which will be held from tomorrow at CIMA. The opening ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Health of the Government of Navarra, María Kutz.

Pharmacogenetics studies the genetic instructions that determine an individual's response to a treatment, as well as possible toxic reactions. Pharmacogenomics, on the other hand, analyzes the molecular and biological mechanisms involved in a disease in order to develop new drugs. "We know that the variation of small molecules (microRNAs) produces different responses to the same drug. In this sense, some approaches are already being carried out in the clinical internship such as the study of mutations in the K-RAS gene in colon cancer, or EGFR in lung cancer, which allow us to guide individualized treatments for each patient".

The study presented in this scientific meeting analyzes the role of microRNA 451 in stomach cancer. "Patients with an elevated expression of this molecule show greater survival, so it could become a biomarker of response to treatment". Researchers at CIMA are also involved in other trials, such as those programs of study with microRNAs 192 and 215, which influence the response to drugs against colon cancer, in the preclinical phase.

Psychiatric and cardiovascular diseases

In addition to its application in cancer, pharmacogenetics is proving its effectiveness in other disciplines such as psychiatry. Thus, it is now possible to determine more individualized treatments for psychotic disorders and epilepsy.

Another field that is increasingly on the rise is cardiovascular disease. "One of the major risks of this disease is the control of thrombotic processes, which are involved in strokes. The study of certain genes, such as ALOX5AP, can guide the most appropriate pharmacological approach for each patient," explains Dr. García-Foncillas.

In the opinion of researcher of CIMA of the University of Navarra, "the convergence of genetic and pharmacological programs of study constitutes a way to optimize both the treatment of each patient and health resources, since we will be able to use the drugs in the appropriate doses, with fewer side effects and in the patients who show the best therapeutic response".