Phenogen Sciences, a subsidiary of Genetic Technologies, has unveiled a non-invasive genetic risk assessment test for women with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer.
The BREVAGen uses patients oral-swab samples to calculate patient's risk of breast cancer by combining relative risk score from seven genetic markers called single nucleotide polymorphisms, with factors that include patient's clinical and reproductive history including current age, age at menarche, age at live first birth and race/ethnicity, according to the company.
The company said the test also provides five-year and lifetime predictive risk assessments to evaluate the patient's risk of developing sporadic breast cancer, regardless of family history.
Previous data from the US Women's Health Initiative (WHI) 3,300 women-based clinical trial showed that BREVAGen was proven superior in determining breast cancer risk compared to Gail score alone.
Breast Center of Austin spokesperson Owen Winsett said by knowing a woman's personal risk of developing breast cancer, doctors can work with the patients to develop personalized 'breast health plans'.
"Breast health plans identify lifestyle changes that a patient can use to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer and provide them with motivation to follow a personalized surveillance / monitoring plan including an appropriate frequency of designated screenings such as mammograms, MRIs and ultrasounds," Winsett added.
"Detecting breast cancer early has a 95% survival rate; when detected at later stages survival is only 41%.
"By utilizing the BREVAGen breast cancer risk assessment test, 80% of women with little or no family history of breast cancer are able to identify their breast cancer risk and take appropriate action thus increasing their chances for survival."
