MUSC researchers develop training for community health workers to improve cancer genetic testing

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To address low participation in genetic testing, a team of researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina, led by Caitlin G. Allen, PhD, MPH, developed a 10-module training curriculum designed to teach community health workers (CHWs) how to share the importance of genetic testing with community members. Through focus groups, Dr. Allen and team worked with CHWs and clinicians to learn about their needs and preferences for genetics training materials. The virtual, 12-hour training, called Keeping Each other Engaged Program via IT (KEEP IT), was delivered to 26 CHWs. The full outcomes of the KEEP IT training sessions are anticipated to be published soon, and the team plans on expanding the training across four other Southern states in the U.S.

Read the full news release.

FDA approves safety labeling changes regarding DPD deficiency for fluorouracil injection products

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On March 21, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved safety labeling changes for fluorouracil injection products. Revisions to the labeling note increased warning of severe toxicity in patients with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency and encourages clinicians to discuss DPYD testing and associated risks with their patients. Additionally, a new subsection for pharmacogenomics was added to section 12 (Clinical Psychology). This effort was a collaboration between FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs and the Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE).

Read the full news post on the FDA website.

Using implementation science to evaluate a population-wide genomic screening program: Findings from the first 20,000 In Our DNA SC participants

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Caitlin G. Allen, Kelly J. Hunt, Lori L. McMahon, Clay Thornhill, Amy Jackson, John T. Clark, Katie Kirchoff, Kelli L. Garrison, Kimberly Foil, Libby Malphrus, Samantha Norman, Paula S. Ramos, Kelly Perritt, Caroline Brown, Leslie Lenert, and Daniel P. Judge.

GUARDD-US Team Surpasses Enrollment Goal

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The GUARDD-US study aims to determine the impact of disclosing genetic of kidney failure among adults with African ancestry on blood pressure. The GUARDD-US study team celebrated surpassing their enrollment goal on September 30, 2023 after enrolling 6,754 participants. The last participant is expected to complete the follow-up period for the trial by May 2024.

The study is a prospective, multicenter, unblinded, two-arm randomized pragmatic clinical trial investigating the impact of apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) genotyping in patients with self-reported African ancestry who have been diagnosed with hypertension.

The study’s primary goal is to determine the effect of participant and provider knowledge of a high-risk APOL1 genotype on change in systolic blood pressure from baseline to 3 months after randomization. Secondary outcomes include kidney disease testing and psycho-behavioral factors.

Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to immediate versus delayed APOL1 genotype testing with the return of results participants and providers.  A subset of the participants without high-risk APOL1 genotype were re-randomized to a genotype-guided approach to anti-hypertensive therapy versus usual care to determine the effect on three-month systolic blood pressure.

GUARDD-US was conducted across 11 relying sites and over 50 clinical practices in the United States.

Study results and primary manuscripts are anticipated to be released in late 2024.

More information about GUARDD-US can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04191824.

ADOPT PGx Team Reaches End-Of-Enrollment Milestone

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ADOPT PGx recently celebrated reaching its participant enrollment milestone in September 2023 following the enrollment of 4,111 total participants. The last participant should complete the follow-up period for the trial by April 2024.

The primary goal of the study is to reduce depression symptoms and improve pain control in participants who are expected to process anti-depressant or pain medications faster or slower than normal as indicated by pharmacogenetic testing. Secondary goals include safety endpoints, changes in overall well-being, and differences in healthcare utilization.

The study is an umbrella protocol comprised of three separate arms: Acute Pain, including 1,602 participants, Chronic Pain, which enrolled 1,461 participants, and Depression, including 1,408 participants.

ADOPT PGx was conducted across five clinical groups representing nine different healthcare institutions in the United States.

Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to immediate versus delayed pharmacogenetic testing and return of results to participants and providers.

Study results and primary manuscripts are expected to be completed in late 2024.

For more information about each of the trials, visit their trial page: Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, and Depression.

CCPM’s Biobank unearths disease risk and pinpoints problems with medications

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The biobank at the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine (CCPM), a partnership between UC Health and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, uses genetic data to identify specific genetic variants that could increase the risk of health problems, such as cancer or heart disease, as well as issues with how patients process a variety of medications.

A patient’s biobank results give them the opportunity to work with their providers to learn about their risks, make lifestyle changes to aid in prevention, and stay up to date about medical options for the best health outcomes. Pam Dyer, one of more than 227,000 patients who have consented to provide a blood sample in the biobank, learned about the gene TTR, which can cause hereditary transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis.

Read the full article on the UC Health website.