Not sure about pharmacogenomics? Take a listen to some compelling patient stories.
I love listening to and learning from podcasts, especially while driving. The PGx for Pharmacists Podcast is a great way to learn more about PGx. While it is geared towards pharmacists, anyone can listen.
The episode I am sharing here includes patients and family members of patients. Several of them have family members who unfortunately met a similar fate after being given a chemotherapy drug (fluorouracil, capecitabine) that they could not metabolize due to a deficiency of an enzyme called DPD. Many European countries require testing for this deficiency before the chemo can be administered. Unfortunately, it is not yet standard practice in the US and yet fluorouracil and capecitabine are commonly used to treat colon, breast and other cancers. The side effects can be harsh and can lead to death, particularly in someone deficient in the DPD enzyme. Knowing about the DPD deficiency in advance allows for either a lower dose to be given or an alternative chemotherapy. A simple genetic test can analyze the DPYD gene that is responsible for instructing the body on how to make the DPD enzyme.
