Polymorphism of FGD4 and myelosuppression in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Chemotherapy-related adverse events may restrain taxane/cisplatin administration as a regimen for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Genetic polymorphisms may contribute to adverse event susceptibility. Method & results: The authors genotyped ten SNPs from five genes (rs1045642, rs2032582 and rs3213619 of ABCB1; rs2231137 and rs2231142 of ABCG2; rs246221 of ABCC1; rs3740066 of ABCC2; and rs10771973, rs12296975 and rs1239829 of FGD4) in 219 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with taxane/cisplatin. Patients with severe toxicities were compared with those with minor or no adverse events by unconditional logistic regression models and semi-Bayesian shrinkage. After adjustment for age and sex, with the null prior, FGD4 rs1239829 was statistically significantly related to grade 3–4 leukopenia (odds ratio [95% CI] in dominant model = 1.77 [1.04–3.03]). Conclusion: The minor allele of FGD4 rs1239829 was related to grade 3–4 leukopenia in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with taxane/cisplatin, with unclear biological mechanism.