Patent ID: 6015673
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: C12N,C12Q

Abstract:
A method for determining whether a patient is at risk of a toxic reaction to 5-fluorouracil, the method comprising analyzing DPD DNA or mRNA in a sample from the patient, using a nucleic acid probe selected from the group that consists of SEQ ID NO:1, a specific subsequence thereof, SEQ ID NO:3, a specific subsequence thereof, and nucleic acid probes that selectively hybridize under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO:1, to a specific subsequence thereof, to SEQ ID NO:3, to a specific subsequence thereof, and complementary sequences of all of the above, to determine the amount of intact DPD nucleic acid in the sample, wherein an enhanced risk of a toxic reaction to 5-fluorouracil is indicated by a decrease in the amount of intact DPD DNA or mRNA in the sample compared to the amount of DPD DNA or mRNA in a sample obtained from a patient known to not have a DPD deficiency.