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Gene Test Predicts Cancer Potential in Pancreatic Cysts
Johns Hopkins scientists have developed a gene-based test to distinguish harmless from precancerous pancreatic cysts. The test may eventually help some patients avoid needless surgery to remove the harmless variety. Read more...
National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics to Hold 14th Annual Meeting, Sept. 26-27
With the theme "Strategies for Evidence-Based Education in Genetics" this year's meeting provides an opportunity for health professionals, educators, patient advocates and researchers to come together to learn about advances in genomics and the challenges and opportunities in the development, dissemination and evaluation of genomics education for diverse audiences. Please visit www.nchpeg.org for more information.
Researchers Identify New Genetic Risk Factor for Sudden Cardiac Death
Researchers have discovered a variation in the genome's DNA sequence that is linked to a significant increase in a person's risk of SCD. Understanding how genetic variation plays a role in the risk of SCD could eventually help those at risk take steps to prevent it, the researchers say, although they emphasize that a great deal of follow-up work is required. Read more...
The Ghost of Personalized Medicine
The US Food and Drug Administration recommends that doctors genotype patients before prescribing more than 70 commonly-used medications for specific genetic biomarkers. These tests, the agency suggests, can help physicians identify those in which the drug is less efficacious, poorly metabolized, or dangerous. But medicine is still far from a day when drugs and treatment regimes are fitted precisely to a patient's genomic profile. Read more...
 Screening New Colon Cancer Patients for Lynch Syndrome Would Be Cost-Effective, Study Shows
Screening every new colon cancer patient for a particular familial disorder extends lives at a reasonable cost, say Stanford University School of Medicine researchers. Lynch syndrome patients can take defensive steps (such as yearly colonoscopies) that can either prevent cancer or alert them to get cancer treatment early, when it has the best chance of working. Read more...
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