Fabrizio D'Esposito

BBiomedSc, GradDipPharmSc

Contact Details

Room: Medical Foundation Building
Telephone: +61 2 9036 3264
Email:

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Supervisor: Professor Michael Murray
Associate Supervisor: Professor Iqbal Ramzan

Areas of Research Interest: Pharmacogenetics

The pharmacogenomics of the anticancer drug irinotecan.

The severity of drug-induced toxicities and extent of resistance to chemotherapy can differ greatly among patients. This results from genetic polymorphisms and induction or inhibition of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of drugs. The aim of this project is to minimize drug-induced toxicity and maximize efficacy in irinotecan-based chemotherapy. The main enzymes responsible for the metabolism of irinotecan in vivo are cytochromes P450 and uridine glucuronosyl transferases. The impact of polymorphisms and altered catalytic activity of these enzymes on irinotecan metabolism will be investigated both in vitro and an in vivo.