Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Temozolomide is an oral alkylating chemotherapy medicine that crosses into the brain. In the body it breaks down into a compound that adds methyl groups to DNA, damaging cancer cells. It is used for glioblastoma and other gliomas, usually with radiotherapy, and for some melanomas. It is sold as Temodar and Temodal.
Whether temozolomide works well in glioblastoma depends strongly on MGMT, a DNA repair gene, being switched off (methylated) in the tumour: tumours that cannot repair the damage respond better. That is a feature of the tumour, tested on tumour tissue, not part of the DNA a person was born with. Temozolomide is not broken down by liver enzymes; the inherited-gene studies on this page looked at the transporter ABCB1. There is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Temozolomide. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
ABCB1 rs2229109: Level 3. Efficacy: Glioma. 1.
ABCB1 rs1128503: Level 3. Metabolism/PK: Glioma. 1.
Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Alkylating Agents (class) (Alkylating Agents)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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