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Genetic profiling ‘feasible’ for paediatric cancer patients

Research published in JAMA Oncology demonstrates that tumour and germline molecular profiling is feasible in paediatric cancer patients and can have actionable findings.

2 Feb 2016

Genetic mutations could help explain cause of cancer in pediatric patients

Combined whole exome tumor and blood sequencing in pediatric cancer patients revealed mutations that could help explain the cause of cancer or have the potential to impact clinical cancer care in 40 percent of patients in a study led by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Cancer Center.

29 Jan 2016

PGD model could provide policy guideposts for human genome editing

Human genome editing for both research and therapy is progressing, raising ethical questions among scientists around the world.

22 Jan 2016

St. Jude scientists develop interactive tool to advance understanding of mutations that fuel pediatric cancer

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have developed a web application and data set that gives researchers worldwide a powerful interactive tool to advance understanding of the mutations that lead to and fuel pediatric cancer. The freely available tool, called ProteinPaint, is described in today's issue of the scientific journal Nature Genetics.

30 Dec 2015

Researchers reveal inherited genetic errors across 12 cancer types

Researchers long have known that some portion of the risk of developing cancer is hereditary and that inherited genetic errors are very important in some tumors but much less so in others.

22 Dec 2015

ICGC article lays foundation for the coming era of cancer genomic research

An eye-opening article from the International Cancer Genome Consortium was published today in the prestigious journal Nature Communications. It lays a foundation for the coming era of research in cancer genomics.

13 Dec 2015

Study: Certain characteristics can lead to therapy-related leukemia in breast cancer survivors

A new analysis indicates that certain characteristics may increase a breast cancer survivor’s risk of developing leukemia after undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings are a first step toward finding ways to prevent this serious and potentially life-threatening treatment-related complication.

8 Dec 2015

Role of genetic predisposition in pediatric cancer patients

The most detailed analysis yet of the role germline mutations in genes associated with cancer predisposition play in the development of childhood cancer suggests that comprehensive genomic screening may be warranted on all pediatric cancer patients, not just those with a family history of cancer.

19 Nov 2015

TSRI researchers have new weapons to combat HIV

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have new weapons in the fight against HIV. Their new study, published November 17, 2015 as the cover article of the journal Immunity, describes four prototype antibodies that target a specific weak spot on the virus. Guided by these antibodies, the researchers then mimicked the molecular structure of a protein on HIV when designing their own potential HIV vaccine candidate.

18 Nov 2015

Father’s life experiences can affect health, development of both children and grandchildren

If you have diabetes, or cancer or even heart problems, maybe you should blame it on your dad's behaviour or environment. Or even your grandfather's.

9 Oct 2015

Ambry Genetics presents groundbreaking TP53 gene data at ASHG; TP53 linked to breast cancer

Ambry Genetics (Ambry), a leader in clinical genetic diagnostics and genetics software solutions, has announced new data affirming the effectiveness of multi-gene panel testing (MGPT) in identifying TP53 gene mutations in people who might otherwise not have been tested. The findings, presented as a poster at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, includes data collected from more than 25,000 individuals having TP53 testing, of which 187 were positive. The tested cohort is the largest to date from a single testing laboratory.

9 Oct 2015

Brain metastases evolve ‘clinically actionable’ mutations

Brain metastatic disease shows branched evolution from the primary tumour, suggest preliminary findings from the largest massively parallel sequencing study of paired samples performed so far.

7 Oct 2015

Academies and DFG point out limitations and risks of new genome editing techniques

More efficient bacteria and yeasts for use in fuel and drug production, new strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant germs, and innovative plant breeding methods - new molecular biology techniques that permit targeted genetic modification are giving rise to many promising new opportunities in research and application.

29 Sep 2015

Increasing availability of genetic tests for at-risk cancer patients

Mutations in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes are very likely to lead to a form of cancer in people who have them. These mutations can be detected using a genetic test. The introduction of a new drug has improved treatment options and this, coupled with increased awareness and improved access, increased the number of genetic tests carried out at the MedUni Vienna last year by a factor of five.

28 Sep 2015

UF Health Cancer Center — Orlando Health opens Cancer Genetics Center

Patients at high risk for cancer will now have access to their own specialized center with a dedicated oncologist, nurse practitioner and genetic counselor to assist them with their unique health needs.

10 Sep 2015

Incorporating clinical genomic sequencing data into clinical management improves pediatric cancer treatment

In a study that included children and young adults with relapsed or refractory cancer, incorporation of integrative clinical genomic sequencing data into clinical management was feasible, revealed potentially actionable findings in nearly half of the patients, and was associated with change in treatment and family genetics counseling for a small proportion of patients, according to a study in the September 1 issue of JAMA.

2 Sep 2015

Obesity raises Lynch syndrome CRC risk

Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer in patients with Lynch syndrome, research indicates, but daily aspirin use may combat this excess risk.

27 Aug 2015

New study describes multi-method strategy to improve detection of PMS2 gene mutations in Lynch syndrome

About 3% of colorectal cancers are due to Lynch syndrome, an inherited cancer susceptibility syndrome that predisposes individuals to various cancers. Close blood relatives of patients with Lynch syndrome have a 50% chance of inheritance. The role that PMS2 genetic mutations play in Lynch syndrome has been underestimated in part due to technological limitations.