NEW YORK -- UK-based molecular diagnostics firm Yourgene Health said on Monday its Elucigene DPYD test is now being offered to all patients undergoing chemotherapy in Wales.
Wales implemented a screening program to routinely test all patients undergoing chemotherapy with the Elucigene DPYD test. The screening identifies patients with ihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency, which can lead to severe side effects in patients being treated with chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil.
The drug is commonly used to treat colon, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, breast and cervical cancers. 5-FU is metabolized by the DPD enzyme, which is encoded by the DPYD gene.
Wales began the pilot program earlier this year and has already taken 400 samples with 6 percent of patients coming back positive for DPD. Now, all health boards across Wales are offering the screening with Yourgene the only provider of the test.
Yourgene will provide tests to screen for approximately 200 patients each month for the next year, it said.