Using gene testing to assess the risk of breast cancer
Clinicians will soon be able to use gene panel testing to identify those most at risk from developing breast cancer, thanks to 2,000 DNA samples gathered in Ireland and which were used as part of an international study involving more than 113,000 women,
Peter Doyle reports
There are nine specific genes associated with breast cancer risk, according to the results of an international project with significant Irish involvement. The University of Cambridge-led BRIDGES (Breast Cancer Risk after Diagnostic Gene Sequencing) study aimed to identify women at high risk of breast cancer and to develop sensitive and informative gene panel testing for the prediction of breast cancer risk.