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Pharmacogenomics to Improve Supportive Care Symptoms. A Prospective Observational Study Protocol
Martyn Patel1,2, John McDermott3,4, William Newman3,4
1Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, England, UK.
NIHR Open Research
|April 23, 2026
Summary
Pharmacogenomic testing can personalize palliative care by predicting drug responses and side effects in patients with life-limiting conditions. This study explores its impact on prescribing practices and feasibility in an NHS hospital setting.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacogenomics and Palliative Care
Background:
- Life-limiting conditions often involve symptoms like pain and vomiting, impacting quality of life.
- Supportive and palliative care aims to manage these symptoms, especially near the end of life.
- Current medications may be ineffective or cause side effects, highlighting the need for personalized approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of multi-gene pharmacogenetic testing on prescribing practices in palliative care.
- To assess the feasibility of incorporating pharmacogenomic testing in an acute NHS hospital setting for palliative care patients.
- To understand the acceptability of this research within the palliative care population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study involving 50 adult patients with life-limiting conditions.
- Collection of a single blood sample for multi-gene pharmacogenetic testing.
- Monitoring prescribing patterns over 90 days post-recruitment to identify drug-gene interactions.
Main Results:
- The study will report on prescribing patterns and variations related to actionable drug-gene interactions.
- A drug-gene interaction ratio will indicate the prevalence of relevant medications in palliative care.
- Data will inform future clinical trial design regarding pharmacogenomic utility.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacogenomic testing holds potential for optimizing symptom management in palliative care.
- Preliminary data will guide the design of larger trials to establish clinical utility.
- The study assesses the feasibility and acceptability of pharmacogenomic research in this patient group.
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