Methods of and kits for determining the pharmacogenetic, pharmacokinetic and cellular basis of bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw (BONJ) involve associating particular proteins and particular single nucleotide polymorphisms with a risk for developing BONJ after receiving bisphosphonate treatment. Methods and kits for identifying the genetic basis for a patient's predisposition to BONJ, and methods of identifying patients who are prone to develop BONJ following bisphosphonate administration provide for the development of a tool for physicians to prescribe treatment protocols for BONJ patients based on the patients' genomes (“personal/tailored medicine”). A haplotype tagging SNP approach was used to analyze candidate genes involved in bone absorption and destruction and to examine the influence of genetic variants on the susceptibility of BONJ. Bone biomarkers of BONJ were examined using molecular cell techniques. The methods described herein can be used to identify differences in how patients are genetically predisposed to BONJ as well as genetic differences amongst patients that account for differences in how these patients clear bisphosphonate s from their systems. Determining such genetic differences provides for improved monitoring of the drugs used to treat BONJ, improved prevention of BONJ, and optimized treatment for patients having BONJ or predisposed to BOND.
