Opioid Pharmacogenomics

• Dr Aaron K Wong

  Palliative Medicine Physician and Medical Oncologist

Project Details

We are building an opioid pharmacogenetics database, the OPPtiC
Registry, with matched clinical and biological data from people with
cancer. We are exploring the role of precision medicine in opioid prescribing
for pain relief in palliative care.

The establishment of a clinical opioid pharmacogenomics registry for people with cancer will increase understanding of the potential genetic variations underpinning differences in opioid effectiveness and toxicity.

Many people with cancer will require pain relief with opioids at some time in their illness. Opioids are highly effective for most, but a group of people develop significant side effects. Currently there is no means of predicting who will get side effects. This ongoing study seeks to elucidate the clinical, biological and genetic factors that influence side effects and efficacy for the opioid drug class in a palliative care population of cancer patients.

Potential Impact By establishing a clinical opioid pharmacogenomics registry for people with cancer, we are seeking to personalise the prescribing of opioids to improve pain relief and reduce suffering.

Additional information https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=377282&isReview=true

Researchers

Dr Aaron Wong
Prof Jennifer Philip

Funding

This work is supported via the Bethlehem Griffiths Research
Foundation Grant and the Russell Cole Memorial Research Award
(Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists).

Research Publications

Wong A, Somogyi A, Rubio J, Philip J The Role of Pharmacogenomics in Opioid Prescribing. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN ONCOLOGY. 2022; 23(10): 1353-1369. doi:10.1007/s11864- 022-01010-x

Wong A, Vogrin S, Le B, Klepstad P, Rubio J, Somogyi A, Philip J Background and Breakthrough Opioid Choice May Determine Different Pain Outcomes.. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023; doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.12.009