Cyprus-led team makes breakthrough in breast and ovarian cancer
Cyprus-led team makes breakthrough in breast and ovarian cancer
A team of Cypriot-led scientists has made a breakthrough in the understanding of breast and ovarian cancer with a groundbreaking study that distinguishes between "harmless" and "dangerous" genetic errors, the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) announced on Tuesday.
The study, published in Nature Communications, marks a significant advance in the diagnosis and risk assessment of breast and ovarian cancer, and allows for a more confident interpretation of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
An international team of scientists led by CING's Biostatistics Department analyzed data from over 400,000 women from around the world to determine which genetic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase the risk of cancer.
It has been known for years that these two genes play a role in the hereditary predisposition to certain types of cancer.
However, thousands of mutations in these genes remain a "gray area" for doctors and patients, as it is not known with certainty whether they are harmful.
The team, led by CING Professor Kyriaki Michaelidou and first authors Maria Zanti and Denise O'Mahony, in collaboration with leading scientific institutions from around the world, developed a statistical model that allows the comparison of the frequency of certain mutations in women with or without cancer.
This allowed them to determine which genetic mutations were associated with an increased risk.
Michaelidou said: "The results of the study are not only theoretical, but can be applied in clinical practice."
"Doctors and geneticists can now more accurately inform women undergoing genetic testing whether or not they carry dangerous mutations [...], allowing women to make safer decisions about their health," Michaelidou added.
According to CING, the study comes at a time when genetic testing is becoming increasingly accessible, avoiding unnecessary worries and not overlooking real risks.
The institute's CEO, Leonidas Phylaktou, emphasized that "the study is another important step towards personalized medicine."
Source: cyprusmail.com
Author: Rebekah Gregoriades
The study, published in Nature Communications, marks a significant advance in the diagnosis and risk assessment of breast and ovarian cancer, and allows for a more confident interpretation of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
An international team of scientists led by CING's Biostatistics Department analyzed data from over 400,000 women from around the world to determine which genetic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase the risk of cancer.
It has been known for years that these two genes play a role in the hereditary predisposition to certain types of cancer.
However, thousands of mutations in these genes remain a "gray area" for doctors and patients, as it is not known with certainty whether they are harmful.
The team, led by CING Professor Kyriaki Michaelidou and first authors Maria Zanti and Denise O'Mahony, in collaboration with leading scientific institutions from around the world, developed a statistical model that allows the comparison of the frequency of certain mutations in women with or without cancer.
This allowed them to determine which genetic mutations were associated with an increased risk.
Michaelidou said: "The results of the study are not only theoretical, but can be applied in clinical practice."
"Doctors and geneticists can now more accurately inform women undergoing genetic testing whether or not they carry dangerous mutations [...], allowing women to make safer decisions about their health," Michaelidou added.
According to CING, the study comes at a time when genetic testing is becoming increasingly accessible, avoiding unnecessary worries and not overlooking real risks.
The institute's CEO, Leonidas Phylaktou, emphasized that "the study is another important step towards personalized medicine."
Source: cyprusmail.com
Author: Rebekah Gregoriades
