Simple and Rapid Quantification of the Multi-Enzyme Targeting Antifolate Pemetrexed in Human Plasma.

Background: Pemetrexed is an antifolate cytostatic drug that targets multiple enzymes involved in folate biosynthesis and is indicated for treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma. As evidence for an exposure-response/toxicity relationship is accumulating, dose individualization using therapeutic drug monitoring may be a feasible strategy to optimize treatment. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple, sensitive, high-performance liquid chromatography method with UV detection for quantification of pemetrexed levels in human plasma.

Tailor-made pharmacotherapy: future developments and ethical challenges in the field of pharmacogenomics.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of the myriad interactions between genes and pharmacotherapy. Developments in pharmacogenomics have changed and will affect pharmaceutical research, drug development and the practice of medicine in a significant way. In this article, we make an inventory of the ethical implications that might arise as a result of possible developments in pharmacogenomics and investigate whether the present ethical framework will be able to adequately answer arising questions.