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Ancillary risk information and pharmacogenetic tests: social and policy implications

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 8, pages 85–89 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Some pharmacogenetic tests may provide ancillary disease risk information. To evaluate evidence and assess the social and policy implications of ancillary disease risk information associated with candidate pharmacogenetic variants, We conducted a literature search and abstract review of disease susceptibility studies for each of 42 gene variants potentially associated with drug response. Twenty-two variants (53%) had suggested association with disease risk in at least two studies, and sixteen (38%) were for diseases other than the pharmacogenetic indication. Seven variants (16%) were associated with risk for at least two different diseases. Pharmacogenetic tests have the potential to provide ancillary disease risk information, and this potential should be considered as pharmacogenetic tests are brought into clinical use. Implications will vary with each test but tests should be evaluated individually within a framework that outlines the potential implications of ancillary information.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by the UW NHGRI and NICHD sponsored Center for Genomics and Healthcare Equality, Grant #: P50HG003374 and the University of Washington Biobehavioral Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program (NIH-R25 CA92408). We also acknowledge the contributions of the Pharmacogenetics Working Group of the UW Center for Genomics and Healthcare Equality to the design and discussion of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Public Health Genetics, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    N B Henrikson, W Burke & D L Veenstra

  2. Department of Medical History and Ethics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    W Burke

  3. Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    D L Veenstra

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  1. N B Henrikson
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  2. W Burke
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  3. D L Veenstra
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Correspondence to N B Henrikson.

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Henrikson, N., Burke, W. & Veenstra, D. Ancillary risk information and pharmacogenetic tests: social and policy implications. Pharmacogenomics J 8, 85–89 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.tpj.6500457

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