New type of genetic change identified in inherited cancer Oct 5, 2009
Inherited differences in gene copy number, known as copy number variation (CNV), have been implicated in some hereditary diseases but none of the previously discovered familial cancer genes has had CNV as the genetic change ... "It is likely that other genes are at work here, or that some other mechanism we do not yet understand is in play. Based on our research, however, we do feel that it may be worthwhile to screen for complex genomic rearragements when trying to find the cause of familial... (EurekAlert!)
Fear of insurance rejection deters potentially life saving genetic tests for bowel cancer Sep 6, 2009
All were offered the chance to learn their own individual genetic information at a Familial Cancer Clinic. "When we told participants about the life insurance implications of genetic testing, the number declining genetic testing more than doubled from 20 per cent to 50 per cent," Dr Keogh said. (EurekAlert!)
Women often opt to surgically remove their breasts, ovaries to reduce cancer risk Aug 6, 2009
"This is a very interesting study. It fleshes out some of what we know about adoption of risk reduction strategies in high-risk women who have participated in a very comprehensive and well thought-out genetic counseling, testing and management program," said Claudine Isaacs, M.D., an associate professor of medicine and co-director of the Fisher Center for Familial Cancer Research, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers have a very high... (EurekAlert!)
Stem cell 'daughters' lead to breast cancer Aug 3, 2009
Dr Lindeman, who also heads the Familial Cancer Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said that now the importance of luminal progenitor cells in breast cancer was known it opened the way for the development of new drugs or therapies to treat breast cancer, one of the biggest causes of premature death in women. "BRCA1 women have approximately a 65 per cent lifetime chance of developing breast cancer. Following surgery, treatment options available to these women are often limited to... (EurekAlert!)
Specific Lung Cancer Susceptibility Gene Identified Apr 17, 2009
The UC-led team will conduct additional research to investigate how environmental factors may influence familial cancer development. Funding for this research comes from the National Institutes of Health through the Genetic Epidemiology of Lung Cancer Consortium, a collaborative research effort established in 1997 to research the genetic origins of familial lung cancers. (Science Daily)
