PGP also rids cells of many other medications, such as HIV protease inhibitors and drugs used to control high blood pressure and prevent failure of kidney transplants. Working with collaborators in five countries, Dr. McLeod and his colleagues did DNA tests on blood samples from 1,280 people from 10 ethnic populations. The researchers studied Ghanaian, African American, southwest Asian, British Caucasian and Saudi populations as well as people native to Portugal, China, Kenya, the Sudan and the Philippines. They found that some populations were significantly more likely than others to contain the mutation. Because lack of the mutation is associated with higher expression of PGP and thus higher drug resistance, these findings mean that physicians may soon have the necessary tools for individualizing therapy, especially for people of African heritage.
Many factors affect survival rates among cancer patients.
Knowing this, we should be able to help decrease the variability in the way people are treated. Previous studies have shown that there are ethnic and racial differences in the ability to make several proteins important for successful drug therapy. Any question regarding a medical diagnosis, treatment, referral, drug availability or pricing should be directed to either a licensed physician or to the product's manufacturer.