NHS Genomics Testing Alters Chemotherapy for Cancer Patients, Addressing Ethnic Health Inequalities
The NHS Race and Health Observatory, in partnership with the University of Liverpool, has implemented a genomics testing scheme that alters chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients. This initiative focuses on screening for the DPYD gene variant, which affects the breakdown of fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy drugs. Previously, testing in the UK concentrated on variants common in white European ancestry, but the new scheme includes the c.557A>G variant, prevalent in individuals of African ancestry. This change aims to reduce adverse drug reactions and improve treatment outcomes for diverse ethnic groups. The North West Genomic Laboratory Hub began this expanded screening in September 2025, and it is now being adopted by six other genomic hubs. 
