Biological Principle of Chemotherapy: Cellular Response – the Result of its Evolutional Memory

Summary

The cell reaction to chemotherapy is based on certain general biological principles. The genetic structure of cellpopulations, their actual reaction to chemotherapy and the prognosis of their development are not accidental. Theyare determined by previous exposures to chemotherapeutic agents and thus their evolutional experience on Darwinianprinciples. Chemotherapy occurs always in a defined environment of the host with his active participation. A geneticvariability in the host reaction to chemotherapeutic interference also exists and which in the long-term perspectiveis also of evolutional nature. The complex of evaluation of therapeutic procedures thus involves evaluation andinfluencing of the host and his variability (immunotherapy). Understanding of molecular mechanisms of thepathogenesis of disease, definition of specific genes, their expression, the role of their products and definition ofpossible targets of chemotherapy is at present a realistic goal of application of genomics and proteogenomics inmedicine. The new philosophy in medicine is thus based on respecting individuality in diagnosis, treatment andprognosis. We only can wish that the trend of respecting individuality will be applied in the future, and not only inmedicine.

Key words:
chemotherapy, avolution, resistance, infectious diseases, immunosuppresion, viruses, bacteria, host,polymorphism, main histocompatibility system (MHC).