Severe Toxicities in Amazonian Populations and the Role of Precision Medicine in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment

Corticosteroids, such as prednisone or dexamethasone, constitute integral components of antineoplastic regimens for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) therapy, albeit accompanied by significant adverse effects. The multifactorial nature of interindividual variability in drug response, encompassing genetic polymorphisms, underscores the complexity of pharmacotherapy outcomes. However, pharmacogenetic investigations hitherto have predominantly focused on cohorts of European and North American descent, thus limiting the generalizability of findings to populations with minimal representation. Indigenous populations in Brazil, particularly those inhabiting the Amazon region, exhibit a distinctive genetic heritage, predominantly characterized by Native American ancestry. These populations frequently manifest suboptimal therapeutic responses and elevated mortality rates following ALL treatment. Therefore, delineating the molecular signatures of genes implicated in the corticosteroid pathway within these indigenous cohorts assumes paramount importance. This study identified novel variants within genes associated with the glucocorticoid pathway in indigenous Amazonian populations and conducted comparative analyses of variant frequencies across diverse global populations. The findings underscore the genetic uniqueness of indigenous groups and highlight the potential impact of genetic factors on adverse responses to ALL treatment. Precision medicine approaches tailored to the genetic peculiarities of indigenous populations emerge as imperative strategies for optimizing therapeutic efficacy and mitigating treatment-related toxicities in these communities.