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Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Author Spotlight: Genetic Profiling for Fluorouracil Response in Gastric Cancer
Published on: May 10, 2024
Fluoropyrimidine-Associated Toxicity in Two Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients: Potential Role of Common DPYD
Felicia Stefania Falvella1, Marco Luoni, Stefania Cheli
1Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.
Abstract:
While the majority of patients can be treated safely with fluoropyrimidine, some experience severe fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity. The frequency and severity of these adverse events vary from patient to patient and are partially explained by genetic polymorphism into the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) gene. Carriers of the rare allelic variants DPYD*2A, DPYD*13, and DPYD D949V are more likely to experience severe adverse reactions during fluoropyrimidine-based therapy. However, these 3 genetic variants explain only a small percentage of the overall drug toxicity, and more frequent ones such as homozygous or compound heterozygous DPYD V732I can play a key role.
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