Overview

• The retrospective international analysis reviewed clinical and genetic data from 551 patients who received chemotherapy followed by liver surgery, with results published in eBioMedicine.
• Patients carrying two copies of the PNPLA3 variant all showed signs of significant chemotherapy-associated liver injury.
• The PNPLA3 polymorphism was also linked to worse overall survival among patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases.
• Variant prevalence differs widely by population, with rates reported above 41% in Japan, above 71% among people of Peruvian descent, and below 10% in some European groups.
• Authors suggest a blood test for the variant and enhanced liver monitoring to personalize chemotherapy timing or regimens, noting these steps are emerging recommendations rather than established standard practice.