How the human genome can predict response to hepatitis C therapy

Abstract

It has long been suspected that host genetic factors influenced treatment outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Three independent genome-wide association studies have recently identified genetic variation in the IL28B gene (coding for IFN-λ3) that determines the outcome of interferon-α- based therapy for patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection. These discoveries confirm the potential for a pharmacogenomics approach to personalizing anti-HCV treatment. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.