Stella Ehi Egege1, Micheal Abimbola Oladosu2*, Moses Adondua Abah3, Bukola Oluwaseyi Olufosoye4 and Chinwe Dolly Udeka5

 1Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the Health Sciences, St. Kitts, West Indies

2Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Anchor University, Lagos, Nigeria.

 3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Wukari, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria

4Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

5Department of Pharmacy Technician, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mbash College of Health Sciences and Technology, Abia State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author

Received: Apr 20, 2026/ Revised: June 2026/Accepted: June 3, 2026

Highlights

  • Reviews pharmacogenomic predictors of chemotherapy toxicity in pediatric oncology.
  • Examines genetic variants influencing drug metabolism, transport, and treatment response.
  • Highlights clinically relevant biomarkers including TPMT, NUDT15, CEP72, and SLC28A3.
  • Evaluates evidence supporting personalized chemotherapy dosing in children with cancer.
  • Discusses challenges and future directions for integrating pharmacogenomics into clinical practice.

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced toxicity remains a significant challenge in pediatric oncology, affecting treatment outcomes, quality of life, and long-term survival. Inter-individual variability in drug response is partly explained by genetic polymorphisms affecting drug metabolism, transport, and pharmacodynamics. This review examines recent advances in pharmacogenomics of chemotherapy-induced toxicity in pediatric cancer patients, focusing on genetic predictors of serious adverse reactions to commonly used anticancer agents. A comprehensive literature review was conducted examining pharmacogenomic studies published between 2020-2025, focusing on validated genetic markers associated with chemotherapy toxicity in pediatric populations. Significant progress has been made in identifying genetic variants that predict toxicity to thiopurines (TPMT, NUDT15), anthracyclines (SLC28A3, RARG, CBR2), vincristine (CEP72, ABCC1, SLC5A7), and platinum-based agents (ACYP2, TPMT). These variants influence drug metabolism, transport, and cellular sensitivity through various mechanisms. Meta-analyses and large international cohorts have validated several associations, with some achieving clinical implementation.Pharmacogenomic testing offers promise for personalized chemotherapy dosing in pediatric oncology. However, challenges remain regarding clinical implementation, standardization of phenotyping, and the need for validation across diverse populations. Future research should focus on multi-gene risk prediction models and integration into clinical decision-making tools.

Keywords: Novel drug delivery systems, nanoparticles, smart delivery, stimuli-responsive, personalized medicine, bioavailability, targeted therapy

How to cite this article

Egege, S. E., Oladosu, M. A., Abah, M. A., Olufosoye, B. O., & Udeka, C. D. (2026). Pharmacogenomics of pediatric oncology: Genetic predictors of chemotherapy toxicity in children. Science Archives, 7(2), 181–191. https://doi.org/10.47587/SA.2026.7217

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

 

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