Large, real-world study of pharmacogenetic testing to guide treatment shows it doesn't work
Pharmacogenetic testing means identifying which genetic variants a patient carries and then using that information to guide what drug treatment they should be prescribed. It's something one would think ought to be helpful. Variation in key genes might affect how drugs were metabolised or how well they worked on their molecular target. Within the field of cancer treatment there is clear evidence that genetic testing can be used to define different subtypes of cancer and that this can result in more effective treatment programs being used. There is plenty of research to show that certain commonly occurring variants will result in some drugs being metabolised more slowly, meaning that in somebody carrying one of these variants the drug may accumulate in higher concentrations, increasing the risk of side effects. Common sense would predict that testing patients and providing lower doses to such "slow metabolisers" should make them less likely to experience adverse effects and...