Incidence and impact of Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene mutation on neoadjuvant chemotherapy in head and neck cancers

5 FU (5-Fluorouracil) is a common chemotherapeutic agent used in head and neck cancer in combination with docetaxel and cisplatin in the neoadjuvant setting [1,2]. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is an enzyme essential for metabolism of 5FU [3]. The enzyme is coded by the gene DPYD [3]. Polymorphism and mutations leading to a decrease in production of this enzyme are known and these result in an increment in 5 FU related side effects [4–6]. The incidence of such polymorphisms or mutations is variable across different ethnic populations [7].

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