Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency (DPD) in GI malignancies: Experience of 4 years.

2056 Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an integral part of treatment of GI malignancies. While normal DPD enzyme activity is rate limiting in 5-FU catabolism, its deficiency could increase concentrations of bioavailable 5-FU anabolic products leading to 5-FU related toxicity syndrome. With DPD deficiency, 5-FU is discontinued. Data regarding safety of capecitabine (CAP) in this population is scarce. METHODS Patients were tested for DPD deficiency after excessive toxicities from 5-FU and CAP at UAB between 2001 and 2005. DPD activity was evaluated by PBMC radio assay, genotyping of DPYD gene by DHPLC, or 2-13C uracil breath test (UraBT). RESULTS Of 23 patients with GI malignancies (small intestine, gastric, pancreatic, HCC, and colorectal) evaluated, 7 (30%) were DPD deficient. Among these 7 patients, DPD activity ranged from 0.064 - 0.18 nmol/min/mg. Age ranged from 51-75 years, M:F ratio = 1.3:1, and ethnicities included Caucasian (71%), African-American (14%) and South-Asian (14%). Four were treated with 5-FU/LV (2 Roswell; 2 Mayo); 2 CAP (1800mg/m2); and 2 high dose bolus 5-FU (1400mg/m2) + PN401 (tri-acetyluridine). Toxicities included mucositis (71%), diarrhea (43%), nausea (29%), memory loss/altered mental status (43%), cytopenias (43%), hypotension (14%), respiratory distress (14%), acute renal failure (14%), and severe skin rashes (43%). Re-challenge with CAP in 1 patient after the Mayo regimen caused grade 3 HFS only on dorsal surfaces of hands. One patient on PN401 had a grade 3 facial rash as the worst toxicity. Genotypic analysis of the DPYD gene in the second on PN401, who had severe leucopenia, demonstrated a heterozygous mutation (IVS14+1 G>A, DPYP*2A). UraBT in 2 patients revealed 1 to be DPD-deficient (DOB50 of 112.8; PDR of 49.4%) and borderline normal values (DOB50 of 130.9; PDR of 52.5%) in a second patient. There were 2 toxicity-related deaths (28%): 1 on CAP and 1 on 5-FU + PN401. CONCLUSIONS DPD deficiency was observed in several ethnicities. Patients with CAP toxicities should also be tested for DPD deficiency. Role of PN401 in rescuing 5-FU toxicity in DPD deficiency is not clear. Screening patients for DPD deficiency prior to administration of 5-FU or CAP, using UraBT, could potentially lower risk of toxicity. Future studies should validate this technique. [Table: see text].