Breast Cancer Panel Sequencing

Description of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most numerous cancers in newly diagnosed cancer cases, and despite the decline in deaths, it still possesses the second mortality of cancer among women only after skin cancer. Especially, advanced breast cancer treatment is almost useless and can lead to disfigurement. Research suggests that one in every eight women in the United States has the risk of developing breast cancer. Abnormal nuclear DNA content and genetic alterations lead to an increase in the expression products of certain oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. As a result, the phenotypic changes of some abnormal cells with a tendency to become cancerous are accumulated, which may lead to cancerization with the participation of internal and external promoting factors.

Breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1), mapped to chromosome arm 17q, and it is reported about 45% of families with a high incidence of breast cancer have mutations in this gene. Moreover, about 80% of families with this mutation increase the risk of early-onset breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), mapped to chromosome arm 13q, is also commonly found in early-onset breast cancer, with the mutation proportion roughly consistent with the BRCA1 gene. BRCA1 and BRCA2 which produce tumor suppressor proteins can help repair damaged DNA, and therefore, play an important role in cell cycle control. When either of these two genes is mutated or altered, the DNA may not be repaired completely. Cells may develop genetic alterations and even lead to cancer as a consequence.

CD Genomics utilizes targeted NGS sequencing technology to provide more efficient and accurate targeting of somatic and germline variants across BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. If necessary, you can choose genes that fit your requirements.