I read with great interest the findings published in your journal by Montrasio et al1 about pharmacogenetic practice of anticancer drugs. However, I would like to share some comments regarding our experience of DPYD genotype implementation in a tertiary hospital this last year.

Due to heterogeneity in drug response and tolerability, up to one-third of those exposed to fluoropyrimidines (FP) are at risk of developing severe adverse events, which impact patient safety, quality of life, and may compromise drug efficacy.2 DPYD genotyping identifies patients with DPD deficiency who require an initial-dose reduction. As mentioned, after EMA recommendation3 there has been an increase in the number of test requests; even so, it is not always done on time.

In our hospital, from May 2022 to April 2023, DPYD genotype (rs3918290, rs55886062, rs67376798, rs56038477) was requested in 162 patients being treated with FP for the first time. The test was requested before starting a treatment based on FP in 122 patients (75%), and genotyping was available in 82 (51%) patients.

The proportion of patients who began FP-based treatment with the DPYD test requested and with an available test result were 75% and 47%, respectively. Monthly proportions are shown in Figure 1. The median number of days to obtain genotyping results was eight days (IQR = 4).

Figure 1 Proportion of patients who began FP-based treatment.

Five (3%) naive patients were heterozygous carriers (1 rs56038477, 4 rs67376798), two of whom started treatment with the result available, while the other three started FP treatment before the result was delivered by the laboratory.

Forty-two percent of patients (N=68) started with reduced doses, the reasons for which were: prevention of toxicity in frail patients (N=13), pending genotyping result (N= 52), and DPYD carrier (N=2). In 52 patients, the dose was reduced because the DPYD gene result was not available at the beginning, thereby compromising the efficacy of the treatment, while the reduction was only indicated in the five carriers.

Meanwhile, 21 patients (13%) started treatment at full doses without the availability of the result of their DPYD genotype and could have suffered more toxicity than expected as well as had their safety compromised.

The ultimate goal of pharmacogenetic testing is to achieve greater precision in selecting the right drug for the right patient4 and reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system. Requesting DPYD genotyping in stages prior to the start of treatment will enable treatment to be started with the DPYD gene variants already genotyped in order to dose prospectively.

The landscape of pharmacogenomic testing is rapidly evolving. While barriers to the implementation of pharmacogenomic testing into clinical practice are multifaceted5 (systemic, individual, logistical, knowledge-based, etc.) there is a need for increased awareness among oncologists regarding the significance of the test, as much as, develop resources available to support clinicians to implement this testing in their practice.6 Likewise, it is needed to accelerate the circuits to avoid delays in urgent starting treatment when a 100% dose treatment is required.

Dr Mónica Guillot Morales reports non-financial support from Servier, non-financial support from Amgen, non-financial support from Roche, non-financial support from Merck, outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this communication.

1. Montrasio C, Cheli S, Clementi E. Pharmacogenetic practice of anticancer drugs: multiple approaches for an accurate and comprehensive genotyping. Pharmgenomics Pers Med. 2023;16:739–746. doi:10.2147/PGPM.S412430

2. Deac AL. Awareness and recommendation related to DPYD testing among medical oncologist in Romania: a survey study. Farmacia. 2023;71(4):841–847. doi:10.31925/farmacia.2023.4.21

3. EMA recommendations on DPD testing prior to treatment with fluorouracil, capecitabine, tegafur and flucytosine; 2020. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/press-release/ema-recommendations-dpd-testing-prior-treatment-fluorouracil-capecitabine-tegafur-flucytosine_en.pdf. Accessed October30, 2023.

4. Roman YM. Pathway to ascertain the role of pharmacogenomics in healthcare utilization outcomes. Pharmgenomics Pers Med. 2021;14:379–380. doi:10.2147/PGPM.S309038

5. Hippman C, Nislow C. Pharmacogenomic testing: clinical evidence and implementation challenges. J Pers Med. 2019;9(3):40. doi:10.3390/jpm9030040

6. De With M, Sadlon A, Cecchin E, et al. Implementation of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency testing in Europe. 2023. ESMO Open. 2023;8(2):101197. doi:10.1016/j.esmoop.2023.101197