Editor's Choice Main Category: Cancer / Oncology Also Included In: Genetics;Preventive Medicine Article Date: 21 May 2013 - 0:00 PDT

Current ratings for: UK Aims To Make Genetic Testing Available To All Cancer Patients

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The program, involving the Institute of Cancer Research, London, The Royal Marsden, the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics and Illumina Inc, aims to find a way to allow more cancer genes to be tested in more people.

Mutations in some genes, referred to as cancer predisposition genes, considerably raise the probability that a person will have cancer.

Although scientists can identify about 100 cancer predisposition genes, in the UK, testing for these genes is currently very limited.

Looking for gene mutations is now quicker and at a more reasonable cost than ever before as a result of recent advances in methods for reading the genetic code, called sequencing.

There is now a possibility to transform cancer gene testing and to improve the health consequences of several cancer patients as well as their families, the scientists explained.

Professor Nazneen Rahman, lead researcher of the program and Head of Genetics at theInstitute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Cancer Genetics Clinical Unit at The Royal Marsden, said:

It also improves the information available for relatives about their own cancer risks. Sometimes a relative is found to also have an increased risk of cancer and screening or preventative measures can be employed. Just as frequently, testing provides the reassuring news that a relative is not at increased risk of cancer and does not need interventions."

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UK Aims To Make Genetic Testing Available To All Cancer Patients

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