Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a major problem in modern medicine, leading to withdrawal of treatment, non-compliance with medication, permanent disability and death. This is particularly true for cancer treatment, with its potent medications. The vision of Go-PGx is to save lives and improve the quality of life of children with cancer, by using genomics-based precision health strategies to reduce the most common and serious ADRs in these children.
It is increasingly evident that genetic differences in patients can affect their likelihood of developing an ADR. Drs. Bruce C. Carleton and Colin J. Ross, both of the University of British Columbia, investigated the genomic association for five severe ADRs caused by common childhood cancer treatments and developed five lab tests to predict the likelihood of a childhood cancer patient developing an ADR.
As part of the project, the team implemented these tests in nine clinics across Canada, utilizing an educational curriculum and materials for healthcare professionals that the team had developed. The team also examined the values of these clinical tests such as preferences, attitudes, perceptions and economic implications, to policymakers, clinicians, patients and their families that will help facilitate the uptake of genomic-based applications in healthcare.
As a result of this project, the team built a globally accessible databank containing genomic and clinical information for 12,297 ADR reports and 114,369 reports of medication use without ADRs. Looking forward, the team aims to maintain the ADR database while expanding the vision of Go-PGx into other medical disciplines by reducing ADRs in patients.