NCCN Updates Guidelines to Recommend DPYD Testing Before Fluoropyrimidine Chemotherapy
• The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has updated its clinical guidelines to recommend considering DPYD genotyping before initiating fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for cancer patients.
• Approximately 6% of individuals carry pathogenic DPYD variants, which can cause severe or fatal toxicity to common chemotherapy drugs like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and capecitabine used in treating colon, rectal, and gastrointestinal cancers.
• Clinical data shows that genotype-guided dosing significantly reduces severe toxicity from 73% to 28% in DPYD variant carriers while maintaining treatment effectiveness, representing a major advancement in personalized cancer care.
Aga Khan University Hospital Launches Clinical Trial of KRAS Inhibitor GDC-6036 in Kenya
• A new clinical trial in Kenya is evaluating Roche's GDC-6036, a novel drug targeting the KRAS gene, in cancer patients.
• The trial aims to determine if GDC-6036 can effectively block the mutation of the KRAS gene into the KRAS G12C variant, which is implicated in various cancers.
• The study emphasizes the importance of conducting clinical trials in Africa to develop therapies that are better suited to the genetic specifications of African populations.
• The trial seeks to provide new treatment options for cancer patients and contribute to the advancement of precision oncology in the region.
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