Genetic polymorphism of CYP2A6 in the German population

Genetic polymorphism of drug metabolizing enzymes (DME) can lead to severe toxicity or therapeutic failure of pharmacotherapy. Additionally, genetically determined differences in the activity of the metabolic enzymes can increase an individual's susceptibility to certain types of chemically induced cancers and possibly other diseases. Cytochrome P450 is one of the most important metabolic systems of the organism involved in the oxidation of different xenobiotics. This contribution summarizes and updates the information concerning the genetic polymorphism of the CYP2A6 isoform of the cytochrome P450. A special emphasis is put upon the genotyping techniques of CYP2A6 with a comparative analysis of their predictable sensitivity and specificity given on the example of the German population.