March 22, 2006

Breast Cancer Gene Test Has Flaw

The widely used genetic test for breast cancer risk can miss mutations that help cause the disease, according to a new study, a finding that is likely to increase the pressure to develop more thorough testing methods.

The test, which looks for mutations in genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2, missed them in about 12 percent of breast cancer patients from families with multiple cases of breast or ovarian cancer, according to the study's authors at the University of Washington. (nytimes.com)

Posted by news editor on March 22, 2006 01:40 PM