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Endogenous retroviruses also play critical role in the body's immune defense against pathogens

Retroviruses are best known for causing contagious scourges such as AIDS, or more sporadically, cancer.

19 Dec 2014

Myriad Genetics highlights three new studies at SABCS 2014

Myriad Genetics, Inc. today announced results from a new study that demonstrated the ability of the myRisk Hereditary Cancer test to detect 105 percent more mutations in cancer causing genes than conventional BRCA testing alone. The Company also presented two key studies in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) that show the myChoice HRD test accurately predicted response to platinum-based therapy in patients with early-stage TNBC and that the BRACAnalysis molecular diagnostic test significantly predicted response to platinum-based drugs in patients with metastatic TNBC.

10 Dec 2014

Myriad Genetics' Tumor BRACAnalysis CDx identifies 44% more candidates for PARP therapy

Myriad Genetics, Inc. today announced that its Tumor BRACAnalysis CDx- companion diagnostic test significantly improved the detection of cancer-causing BRCA1/2 mutations by 44 percent in women with ovarian cancer. Data from this new study were presented at the 2014 European Society for Medical Oncology annual meeting in Madrid, Spain.

29 Sep 2014

Research findings provide clues for design of future HIV vaccine

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have described how a single family of antibodies that broadly neutralizes different strains of HIV has evolved remarkably diverse structures to attack a vulnerable site on the virus.

26 Sep 2014

Collaborative study takes important step toward finding targeted treatments for bladder cancer

The story of cancer care seems so simple: find the mutated gene that causes cancer and turn it off or fix it. But rarely does a single gene cause cancer. More often, many genes are altered together to drive the disease. So the challenge becomes sorting out which altered genes are the most to blame in which cancers.

16 Sep 2014

BRCA2 mutations herald poor prognosis in screen-detected prostate cancer

Among men with prostate cancer detected on screening, survival among those with a mutation in the BRCA2 gene is much poorer than in those without such a mutation, researchers report.

18 Aug 2014

New guideline recommends genetic testing of tumors for colorectal cancer patients

Of the 143,000 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer annually in the U.S., up to 25 percent have a familial risk of colorectal cancer. A new guideline from the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer recommends genetic testing of tumors for all newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients.

5 Aug 2014

CHLA researchers develop novel NextGen sequencing approach for retinoblastoma

Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have developed a unique next-generation sequencing test for the gene linked to retinoblastoma. The new approach is both more comprehensive and can be conducted in less time than existing tests - enabling early detection of the cancer's genetic cause, which is critical for optimal treatment outcomes.

3 Jun 2014

Variations in BRCA2 and CHEK2 genes can increase lung cancer risk, study finds

New research confirms a vulnerability to lung cancer can be inherited and implicates the BRCA2 gene as harboring one of the involved genetic mutations.

3 Jun 2014

Scientists uncover early steps of totipotency in sperm precursors

In the body, a skin cell will always be skin, and a heart cell will always be heart. But in the first hours of life, cells in the nascent embryo become totipotent: they have the incredible flexibility to mature into skin, heart, gut, or any type of cell.

20 May 2014

New insight into germline EGFR T790M mutation in familial non-small cell lung cancer

Two studies are providing new insight into germline epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation in familial non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The findings suggest the need for tailored approaches for early detection and treatment, as well as for genetic testing to identify carriers.

24 Mar 2014

LMU researchers identify genetic mutations that result in overproduction of cortisol

An international team of researchers led by an endocrinologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich has identified genetic mutations that result in uncontrolled synthesis and secretion of the stress hormone cortisol.

28 Feb 2014

Novel HER2 mutation identified in familial lung adenocarcinomas

Researchers have identified a novel germline mutation in the transmembrane domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene in familial lung adenocarcinomas.

24 Jan 2014

New book provides cutting-edge methods for generating and characterizing mouse cancer models

The laboratory mouse is an important model for addressing questions in cancer biology. In recent years, the questions have become more refined, and mouse models are increasingly being used to develop and test cancer therapeutics.

12 Dec 2013

Multiplicom launches MID kit for Illumina MiSeq and MASTR kits for MODY, ADH and HCM

Multiplicom NV, a specialist in the development, production and commercialization of innovative molecular genetic tests based on massively parallel sequencing, today announces that it is launching a CE/IVD labeled MID kit for Illumina MiSeq together with three new germline mutation detection MASTRTM kits enabling the identification of individuals at risk for maturity onset diabetes of the young, autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

2 Dec 2013

Researchers study role of small non-coding RNAs expressed in the human male germline

Researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain, have studied the role of a peculiar class of small non-coding RNAs that are mainly expressed in the human male germline.

22 Nov 2013

Curie-Cancer inks partnership agreements with Meiogenix to develop SpiX technology

Curie-Cancer, the body responsible for developing Institut Curie's industry partnership activity, today announces two three-year partnership agreements with Meiogenix, a French SME. Meiogenix develops SpiX technology under license from Institut Curie and Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique.

19 Nov 2013

Offspring born to stressed mothers show stress-induced changes

Children of survivors of extremely stressful life events face adjustment challenges of their own, as has been most carefully studied among the children of Nazi Death Camp survivors. This "intergenerational" transmission of stress response has been studied predominately from the psychological perspective. However, recent research points to biological contributions as well.

5 Nov 2013

Next-generation sequencing may help discover genetic changes that might lead to cancer

A pilot study led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute and the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare shows that, even for patients with advanced and rapidly transforming cancer, researchers can find potential therapeutic targets using the latest advances in genomic sequencing.

31 Oct 2013

BRCA1/2 mutations may alter endometrial, ovarian function

Scientists have detected significant differences in endometrial thickness and hormone levels in women with and without BRCA1/2 mutations that may play a role in cancer susceptibility or development.

22 Oct 2013