Mouthwash test assesses breast cancer risk:
A simple test can help doctors identify women at risk of breast cancer at various stages of their life, say US scientists. The team, based at the University of Oklahoma, has shown that different versions of key hormone genes affect a woman’s risk of developing the condition. The findings, published in the journal Cancer, are a step towards more tailored approaches to preventing and treating cancer.
The researchers focussed on 12 different genes involved in making so-called ‘steroid’ hormones such as oestrogen in the body. By studying DNA samples from over 6,500 women, they discovered that particular versions of four of the genes are linked to differences in breast cancer risk. But the precise effect of the variants - whether they increased or decreased risk – also depended on the age of the woman.
The team has used the discovery to develop a simple mouthwash test to assess the likelihood of a woman developing breast cancer at three different stages in her life: premenopausal (30-44 years), perimenopausal (45-54 years) and postmenopausal (55-69 years).
UK company Opaldia, which offers a private genetic medicine service, is the first to offer the new OncoVue™ test in Europe. Medical director James Mackay said: ‘The authors of this report say that they hope their discovery brings us a step closer to the implementation of personalised medicine and a more accurate assessment of the risk of breast cancer in all women’. He added, ‘I firmly believe that this hope will be realised and Opaldia is committed to bringing this discovery to thousands of women in a timely and responsible fashion’.
Source:
Opaldia welcomes American study into breast cancer: Opaldia Limited: 15/5/07