The Centre for Clinical Diagnostic Genomics at the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) has begun using new DNA sequencing techno­logy to test for inherited mutations in two major breast cancer genes. Mutations on two specific genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, greatly increase a wo­man’s risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer.

The new technology, NextGen, will reduce wait times for test results from 6 months to 2 months, allowing patients who have the mutation to take preventive action sooner, and enabling physicians to make more timely therapy decisions. The project was funded by Genome BC and the Provincial Health Services Authority, with each contributing $200 000 to­ward a project initiated in 2010 to create a faster and more cost-effective alternative to the testing technologies being used at the time. 

Read more in our BCMJ blog article [8].