Role Hereditary Cancer Testing in Genetic Engineering
Individuals carrying mutations for hereditary cancer syndrome are at high risk for tumor development at an early age, as well as synchronous or metachronous development of many tumors of the respective tumor spectrum. The genetic causes of several hereditary cancer syndromes have already been identified. About 5% of all cancers are part of a hereditary cancer syndrome. Diagnostic criteria are currently available, according to which a number of hereditary cancer syndromes can be diagnosed or suspected and which pave the way for further molecular genetic analysis. A physician can easily determine whether these criteria are met by guided inquiries about the patient's personal and family medical history. Identification of the motile germ line mutation in the family confirms the diagnosis in the affected individual and opens up the option of predictive testing in healthy relatives.
Top Companies Involving in the field of Hereditary Cancer Testing:
- Hologic Inc.
- Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
- Myriad Genetics, Inc.
- Cancer Genetics Inc.
- Invitae Corporation
- Myogenes
- Strand Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
- Pathway Genomics Corporation
- CENTOGENE AG
Hereditary cancers due to monogenic causes are characterized by earlier age of onset, other associated cancers, and often a family history of specific cancers or associated features. It is clinically important to recognize these individuals and their family members to guide clinical management for those with cancer. Laboratories are also offered pan-cancer panels covering large numbers of approximately 30 to 60 genes for patients who had family or personal histories that did not fit a single hereditary cancer syndrome. With more expansive testing, it has become apparent that there is a bias of ascertainment in the early literature in that research studies tended to include patients with the most significant family histories.
Although, the genetic testing of various metabolic liabilities of cancer is clinically accessible, the available data suggest that a limited population is aware about these tests. The awareness regarding hereditary cancer conditions is growing due to various efforts made by the government. In the past decade, public medical, health, and scientific communities invested in spreading awareness regarding hereditary cancer conditions, with a major focus on hereditary cancer risk, family history, and genetic testing for inherited cancer liability. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) publicity of cancer genetic testing and federal regulations of genetic information have been other factors driving cancer genetic testing awareness among people.
For instance, Myriad Genetics Laboratories, Inc. (Myriad), launched various DTC campaigns in major cities in US in the past decade. Moreover, multiple companies provide genomic profiling services for health assessment, including cancer risk prediction. Thus, increasing awareness regarding genetic cancer would enhance the demand for the diagnostic tests, along with improving the quality and efficacy of hereditary cancer testing during the forecast period.
Hence, advances in gene discovery have allowed the diagnosis of recently characterized hereditary cancer syndromes to enhance medical management for individuals with inherited susceptibility to common cancers.