Abstract
The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, involved in the metabolism of therapeutic drugs, are the major determinants of drug half-life. From a drug industry perspective, variability in drug response owing to GYP polymorphisms makes GYP profiling a commercially interesting option for diagnosis, prognosis and predicting response to drug treatment. Recent studies highlighting microRNA-mediated regulation of GYP genes represents a major advance in our understanding of variations in individual drug responses. Herein we review new perspectives on the molecular mechanisms of GYP regulation and genotyping technologies. Together, these developments present novel therapeutic opportunities and help to explain the integrated response of cells to xenobiotic drug metabolism.