Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Exp Med. Mar 20, 2025; 15(1): 97404
Published online Mar 20, 2025. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i1.97404
Genetic factors that predict response and failure of biologic therapy in inflammatory bowel disease
Milena Peruhova, Daniela Stoyanova, Dimitrina Georgieva Miteva, Meglena Kitanova, Milko Bozhidarov Mirchev, Tsvetelina Velikova
Milena Peruhova, Milko Bozhidarov Mirchev, Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heart and Brain, Burgas 1000, Bulgaria
Daniela Stoyanova, Department of Gastroenterology, Military Medical Academy, Sofia 1606, Bulgaria
Dimitrina Georgieva Miteva, Meglena Kitanova, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia 1164, Bulgaria
Tsvetelina Velikova, Department of Medical Faculty, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia 1407, Bulgaria
Author contributions: Peruhova M, Stoyanova D, and Miteva D were involved in conceptualizing the study and writing the manuscript; Peruhova M and Velikova T created the table; Kitanova M, Mirchev M, and Velikova T wrote additional sections of the manuscript; Velikova T was responsible for the critical revision of the manuscript for relevant intellectual content; All authors approved the final version of the manuscript prior to submission.
Supported by The European Union-Next Generation EU, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, No. BG-RRP-2.004-0008.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Daniela Stoyanova, MD, Chief Doctor, Department of Gastroenterology, Military Medical Academy, Georgy Sofiysky Street 3, Sofia 1606, Bulgaria. d.stoyanova@mail.bg
Received: May 30, 2024
Revised: October 9, 2024
Accepted: November 14, 2024
Published online: March 20, 2025
Processing time: 209 Days and 23.8 Hours
Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a significant disease burden marked by chronic inflammation and complications that adversely affect patients’ quality of life. Effective diagnostic strategies involve clinical assessments, endoscopic evaluations, imaging studies, and biomarker testing, where early diagnosis is essential for effective management and prevention of long-term complications, highlighting the need for continual advancements in diagnostic methods. The intricate interplay between genetic factors and the outcomes of biological therapy is of critical importance. Unraveling the genetic determinants that influence responses and failures to biological therapy holds significant promise for optimizing treatment strategies for patients with IBD on biologics. Through an in-depth examination of current literature, this review article synthesizes critical genetic markers associated with therapeutic efficacy and resistance in IBD. Understanding these genetic actors paves the way for personalized approaches, informing clinicians on predicting, tailoring, and enhancing the effectiveness of biological therapies for improved outcomes in patients with IBD.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Genetic predictors; Inflammatory bowel disease treatment; Biologic therapy; Biologic therapy response; Genetic markers in inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammatory bowel disease treatment failure; Pharmacogenomics; Biologic therapy efficacy; Genetic variability

Core Tip: Understanding the genetic factors that influence the response and failure of biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies. Identifying specific genetic markers can help predict patient outcomes, tailor personalized therapies, and improve efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. This approach enhances clinical decision-making, leading to better management of IBD and improved patient quality of life. Future research should focus on expanding genetic profiling to refine therapeutic interventions.