Bene Ekine-Afolabi

Title : The future of pharmacogenetic polymorphism, pharmacogenomics and pharmamicrobiome in cancer treatment

Abstract:

Drug metabolism is crucial in any functioning of a drug, particularly in drugs for cancer treatment. Several drugs do not function in human body in their original state unless metabolised to its required functioning metabolite to affect its target organ/site or tissue. Drug metabolism occurs via certain drug metabolising enzymes and transporters which are responsible for drug biotransformation and function. The increasing understanding of the implications of genetic variation, genomics, and microbes in disease, is paramount in identifying and validating clinically relevant biomarkers to improve patient outcomes during chemotherapy.

The human genome has variation occurring in every 300-1000 nucleotides, with over 14 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the entire genome. The individual differences in traits, characteristics and behaviour can determine patients’ response administered with same drug.

Conclusion: To reduce toxicity and improve efficiency of therapy, it is crucial to understand variations in genetics and genomic that impacts on drug response, to optimize cancer therapy and individual side effects. Researchers have intensely focused on human genomes and genetics; understanding the roles of microbiome in drug metabolism and function, could further define patient’s response to therapy?

Biography:

Bene Ekine-Afolabi is a graduate of River State University of Science & Technology in Applied Biology (Medical Microbiology option); with an MRes degree at University of East London, United Kingdom. She had her PhD. study & worked at the Department of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University, UK. Trained in practical approach to toxicology in drug development (American College of Toxicology/British Toxicology Society). Bene does research in Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Cancer: Her current focus of research (which has yielded eight designed models), is on the Investigation of molecular mechanism of colorectal cancer and due to the current pandemic, has been involved in drug development for COVID-19. Bene had Harvard University part-sponsored training in therapeutic research in Cancer Biology & Therapeutic. Bene has been involved in three published peer reviewed article, two manuscript awaiting publication, among which one is on COVID-19 and was submitted to the Chief Medical Officer of United Kingdom to assist in response to the pandemic.