Molecular genetic markers of liver functional activity in patients with malignant neoplasms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/ijmmr.2413-6077.2026.1.16457Keywords:
biomarkers, cancer, hepatotoxicity, gene expression, liver metastasisAbstract
Abstract. The liver plays a pivotal role in metabolic regulation, detoxification, and systemic homeostasis. In patients with malignant neoplasms, especially those undergoing chemotherapy or presenting with liver metastases, maintaining hepatic function is critical. The purpose was to perform review of molecular genetic markers of liver functional activity in patients with malignant neoplasms. In order to form the primary cohort of publications, their search was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, Research Gate, and a set of the following keywords: “liver”, “molecular genetics”, “cancer”, “genetic markers”, “functional activity”. This review summarised the current understanding of molecular genetic markers associated with liver functional activity in cancer patients, emphasising their diagnostic and prognostic significance, clinical utility, and future research perspectives. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2024 were included in this review. Among the reviewed studies, several molecular genetic markers consistently emerged as significant indicators of liver functional status: CYP450 Enzymes (CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2E1), UGT1A1 28 Polymorphism, GSTM1 and GSTT1 Null Genotypes. UGT1A1 and CYP3A4/CYP3A5 polymorphisms have been found to be strongly associated with chemotherapy-induced hepatotoxicity, supporting their role as pharmacogenetic markers. Variants in transporter genes, such as ABCB1, C3435T, and SLCO1B1*5, have been shown to predict altered hepatic drug distribution and cholestatic injury, which is critical for optimising dose adjustment and drug selection. Profiling of cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TGF-β1), oxidative stress markers (e.g., TP53, SOD2), and circulating non-coding RNAs (e.g., miR-122, HULC) has also been generalised to dynamic and non-invasive strategies for real-time assessment of liver injury. The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that the established biomarkers can become indispensable tools in precision oncology, ensuring more accurate diagnosis, effective monitoring of disease progression, and individualised treatment planning
Received: 24.12.2025 | Revised: 24.04.2026 | Accepted: 26.05.2026
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