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Daniel Flora: A Simple Test That Could Save Lives

Daniel Flora/accru.org

Mar 12, 2025, 06:29

Daniel Flora: A Simple Test That Could Save Lives

Daniel Flora, Medical Director of Oncology Research at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“A Simple Test That Could Save Lives.

I had an amazing conversation today with genetic counselor, founder of MyGeneCounsel, and Forbes contributor Ellen Matloff about something that has the power to change lives but still isn’t standard practice in every cancer center.

At our institution, we universally screen every colorectal cancer patient, and anyone receiving fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine (Xeloda), for DPYD deficiency. This is a rare enzyme deficiency that affects how the body metabolizes these chemotherapy drugs. For most patients, the treatment is safe and effective. But for those with certain genetic variants, these medications can build up in the body, leading to severe and sometimes life-threatening side effects.

I’ve seen firsthand what can happen when this test isn’t done. That’s why we’ve made it standard at our cancer center. It’s a simple step that gives us the power to adjust treatment, reduce risk, and protect patients from unnecessary harm. Yet, some centers in the U.S. still don’t offer this screening before starting chemotherapy. In Europe, it’s already standard. It should be here too.

For Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we need to get the word out. This test exists, it works, and it should be available to every patient who needs it. Please share this post and the upcoming Forbes article to help make DPYD testing the norm. Every patient deserves safe, personalized care.”

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