In the Genetics and Molecular Biology MedLife Center is available the test that allows complete sequencing of genes involved in breast and ovary hereditary cancer cases - BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, ATM, BRIP1 and PALB2.
Recent studies indicate that between 10 and 12% of women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Although the latest findings in the field have extended lifespan and increased patients survival rates, breast cancer remains yet the second leading cause of death among women with cancer.
Breast cancer involves two components - the environmental determined component and the genetic or inherited component. In the case of the genetic component, many genes involved in breast cancer have been described. Genes that were most commonly associated and which give the highest risk of developing breast cancer are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These are tumour suppressor genes involved in the DNA integrity control.
A defect in this genes leads to breast and ovary, hereditary cancer syndrome. This syndrome is associated not only with early breast cancer occurrence but also with increased risk of developing ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, larynx, fallopian tube and prostate cancer. The same syndrome is responsible for 5-10% of breast cancers. For people that present mutations in these genes, the risk of developing breast cancer is 50-80% and the risk of developing ovarian cancer by the age of 70 years is 30-50%.
The risk of developing other types of cancers associated with BRCA2 gene mutations increases 20 times in prostate cancer and 10 times in pancreatic cancer. In cases where in the family priorly breast cancer existed, when the transmission can not be explained by BRCA1or BRCA2 mutations, most commonly are involved other genes - CHEK2, ATM, PALB2 and BRIP1.
In addition to testing the complete sequencing of the genes involved in cases of breast and ovary hereditary cancer, in the MedLife Laboratory of Molecular Genetics is performed also an insertions/deletions in BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2 and ATM screening. This screening is part of the test and is price included.
The test price is 3000 lei and test results are issued within 22 days. Analysis harvesting can be done in any MedLife unit. The results interpretation visit, which is also price included occurs in the MedLife Grivita Hyperclinic, where is located the Molecular Genetics Laboratory.