Novel Procedure Considered an ‘Acceptable Method’ to Preventing Transmission of Hereditary Cancer Mutations to Children – Curetoday.com
Posted: October 15, 2021 at 2:03 am
People who are at a greater risk for developing, or have previously received a diagnosis of, a hereditary cancer have an acceptable method available to them to identify what the chances of passing those and other genetic mutations on to their future children are.
The procedure, known as preimplantation genetic testing, helps identify what, if any, genetic abnormalities are present in embryos that were created during the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
This procedure may effectively aid people with a previous diagnosis, or risk, of hereditary cancer from passing those genetic mutations on to future offspring.
During the recent 12th Annual Joining FORCES Against Hereditary Cancer Conference, Dr. Terri L. Woodard, an associate professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, discussed the topic of fertility preservation and parenting issues that cancer survivors and previous often face. Moreover, Woodard highlighted what people should know about certain genetic testing procedures.
Increase in Genetic Mutations
Woodard noted that previous research has shown that adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancers that are frequently associated with old age often have a higher percentage of inherited cancer mutations.
However, she explained, those rates are higher than were once thought.
In fact, Woodard cited a study of more than 1,000 adolescents aged between 18 years and 39 years and noted that the results demonstrated that approximately 21% of the participants diagnosed with early-onset cancer had a germline mutation. Only 13% of the remaining patients had a germline mutation.
This just highlights the fact that many of these young individuals have genetic mutations that can be passed down along to their offspring, she said. Because these patients are younger, there are often fertility and family building issues that arise.
Fertility and Future Family Planning Concerns
There are several genetic conditions associated with a greater cancer risk, according to Woodard. If people have any of those conditions, they are likely to want to pursue genetic testing. For instance, she highlighted hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Woodard noted that many of these patients may experience some form of infertility at a younger age than other people. These patients also may need to undergo risk-reducing surgeries to prevent ovarian cancer.
Another condition, known as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, is associated with a greater risk for developing sarcomas, central nervous system tumors, breast cancer and gonadal germ cell tumors all of which, according to Woodard, negatively affect a persons fertility.
Thats why, she said, many of these individuals need to be partaking in fertility preservation conversations with their care team.
Additionally, some of these cancers may require treatment that negates a persons ability to have children.
Fertility Preservation Methods
Woodard shared insight on some of the fertility preservation methods that people have access to. She noted that eggs, embryos and sperm can all be frozen for use later. Ovarian and testicular tissue freezing are also possibilities, according to Woodard.
Another option available to patients who require radiation to the areas surrounding their reproductive organs is gonadal shielding. In this instance, radiology technicians use protective shields to minimize radiation exposure to certain areas.
People can also go through an experimental approach known as ovarian suppression. Woodard explained that a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist is used in women to suppress the ovary during chemotherapy.
The thought is that a quiet ovary is more resistant to the effects of chemotherapy than one that is actively cycling, she said during her presentation.
She cautioned, however, that the data that are available on this approach are quite variable.
Family Building Options
There are a great range of opportunities available to patients when deciding to have a family, Woodard explained. Depending on their comfort levels, she said, options available to patients range from natural conception to IVF and plenty more.
For people who may have premature ovarian failure because of their cancer treatment, there is an option to use donor eggs, sperm or embryos. There are also gestational carriers for women who may no longer have a uterus or are deemed too high risk to carry a pregnancy to full-term.
And lastly, Woodard noted that people can pursue adoption. However, she explained, it can sometimes be difficult for people with a history of cancer to adopt.
Sometimes adoption can be challenging for survivors of cancer because some agencies see it as too risky and do not allow those patients to have kind of the initial screening, she said. Asking an adoption agency, whether a cancer diagnosis will disqualify them early on, is a very important question for patients to ask.
Genetic Testing for Future Children
Woodard concluded her discussion by reviewing genetic testing methods that are available for patients to use for assessing the possibility of passing inherited mutations down to future children.
Patients who are already pregnant may use prenatal genetic testing, she said. Prenatal screening lets the parents know what the chances are that the child would have abnormal genetics. Diagnostic prenatal tests are slightly different in that they can show if a fetus is affected with a certain disorder.
The problem with prenatal genetic testing is that the patient is already pregnant, she said. If we find an abnormality, it really has some implications and has patients (making) some hard decisions on whether they would want to continue the pregnancy or not.
For those patients who are not yet pregnant and may be considering IVF, preimplantation genetic testing is a viable option.
Woodard explained that an embryo is tested after the initial IVF prior to transplanting the embryo back into the patients uterus. There are several types of preimplantation genetic testing, but one specifically tests the embryo for a specific gene.
If a woman is a carrier of a BRCA mutation, and she wants to test her embryo for that mutation, this is the type of testing we would use, she explained.
Although some consider preimplantation genetic testing to be unethical or controversial because some people use it for sex selection of their baby Woodard noted its a viable option for many trying to start a family without passing genetic mutations down to their offspring.
(Preimplantation genetic testing) is an acceptable method to prevent transmission of mutations to offspring, but requires in-depth genetic counseling and support, she concluded.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, dont forget tosubscribe to CUREs newsletters here.
Go here to see the original:
Novel Procedure Considered an 'Acceptable Method' to Preventing Transmission of Hereditary Cancer Mutations to Children - Curetoday.com
- Alzheimer's and Genetic Testing: Your Questions Answered - Healthline - March 12th, 2024
- The Evolving Treatment Landscape in EGFR Mutated NSCLC and the Role of Comprehensive Genetic Testing in ... - Cancer Network - March 4th, 2024
- PART II: The Legalities of Pre-Natal Genetic Testing - American Council on Science and Health - March 4th, 2024
- Cord Blood Registry (CBR) by CooperSurgical and Fulgent Genetics Launch Innovative Genetic Testing - PR Newswire - February 13th, 2024
- Australian life insurers support industry ban on use of genetic testing results - Proactive Investors UK - February 5th, 2024
- Predictive genetic testing helps breast cancer patient Tammy Goodsell - East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust - February 5th, 2024
- Significance of Early Genetic Testing in HRR-Mutated mCRPC Highlighted by Real-World Observations - Targeted Oncology - January 28th, 2024
- Genetic testing saves lives but can lead to discrimination when it comes to life insurance - ABC News - January 28th, 2024
- Growth of the U.S. DTC Genetic Testing Market | Personalized Nutrition Medicine - Medriva - January 11th, 2024
- Genetic Testing - Mayo Clinic Health System - January 3rd, 2024
- However good genetic testing gets, there will always be plenty of space for you to make a total mess of things entirely of ... - CyclingWeekly - January 3rd, 2024
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market is Expected to Reach $1.2 Billion | MarketsandMarkets. - Yahoo Finance - December 25th, 2023
- Prenatal and Newborn Genetic Testing Market Size to Hit Eyes USD 14.72 billion by 2031 | CAGR Of 11. - PharmiWeb.com - December 16th, 2023
- Hereditary Genetic Testing Market Study on Investment Possibilities, Industry Share, and Trends through 2030 - EIN News - May 5th, 2023
- Genetic Testing: What You Should Know - Healthline - April 18th, 2023
- Genetic Testing: How It Works, Types, and Diagnosis | Patient - April 18th, 2023
- Genetic Testing Fact Sheet - NCI - National Cancer Institute - March 31st, 2023
- Tempted to have genetic testing? First ask why - Harvard Health - March 31st, 2023
- DNA Test - Genetic Testing Overview - Cleveland Clinic - February 10th, 2023
- Genetic Disorders: What Are They, Types, Symptoms & Causes - January 25th, 2023
- The Genetics of Cancer - NCI - January 25th, 2023
- Understanding Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk - December 28th, 2022
- Prenatal Genetic Diagnostic Tests | ACOG - December 28th, 2022
- DiGeorge Syndrome - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - December 28th, 2022
- Global Rare Disease Genetic Testing Market Report 2022: Ongoing Conferences to Raise Awareness About Rare and Ultra-Rare Conditions to Boost Growth -... - September 21st, 2022
- Genome Medical and Pierian Announce Collaboration to Optimize Genomic Testing Programs - Business Wire - September 21st, 2022
- DNAfit Review: What It Can and Can't Tell You - Healthline - September 21st, 2022
- Purrsonalised health: The startups and VCs betting on pet genetics - Sifted - September 21st, 2022
- One of my daughters and I have the BRCA1 gene mutation - Insider - September 21st, 2022
- Lab testing transparency will improve patient care and lower costs - MedCity News - September 21st, 2022
- Artificial Intelligence Tool May Help in Early Diagnosis of... - Fragile X News Today - September 21st, 2022
- Feral swine meetings Thursday in Eureka and Libby - The Western News - September 21st, 2022
- Recap: Recent Advances in the Treatment of Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer - Cancer Network - September 21st, 2022
- Australia moves to future in biotech and medical technologies with billions in new investment - The New Daily - September 21st, 2022
- Ticking away in the back of my mind: what does it mean to know the risk embedded in your DNA? - The Guardian - September 5th, 2022
- Ambry Genetics Publishes 43,000 Patient Study Showing Combined RNA and DNA Analysis Identifies Patients Who Are High-Risk for Cancer but Would Have... - September 5th, 2022
- Genetic Mosaicism Diagnosed in Case of Atypical Angelman Teen |... - Angelman Syndrome News - September 5th, 2022
- Patients and Parents Impacted by SMA May Be Optimistic About Prenatal Testing, Therapies - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - September 5th, 2022
- Major Depression: The Chemical Imbalance Pillar Is CrumblingIs the Genetics Pillar Next? - Mad In America - Mad in America - September 5th, 2022
- MedGenome Raises $50M To Map The Human Genome - Crunchbase News - September 5th, 2022
- IVF or IUI: Which one to choose for a fertility treatment? - Health shots - September 5th, 2022
- Global Molecular Diagnostics Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.28% by 2032: Visiongain Reports Ltd - Yahoo Finance - September 5th, 2022
- Overview and Prevalence of Dravet Syndrome - Contemporary Pediatrics - September 5th, 2022
- 'It takes toughness and grit' Beasley shares on her breast cancer battle, survivor's journey - Cody Enterprise - September 5th, 2022
- Warning to pregnant Norwegian women as their DNA can be accessed by Chinese authorities - ScandAsia.com - September 5th, 2022
- Global Molecular Diagnostics Devices and Equipment Market Report 2022: A $46.87 Billion Market in 2026 - Long-term Forecast to 2031 -... - September 5th, 2022
- Hereditary Prostate Cancer Genetic Testing: Motivation & Family Communication - Physician's Weekly - August 20th, 2022
- Restrictive abortion laws are limiting the options parents have after receiving genetic test results, experts say - Yahoo Philippines News - August 20th, 2022
- Conversations with a friend on IVF genetic testing - Malta Independent Online - August 20th, 2022
- How a simple home DNA test unravelled the genetic code that could help prolong my life - The National - August 20th, 2022
- 5 Health Issues That are Genetically Passed Down. Do You Have One? Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That - August 20th, 2022
- 25 Years After 'Gattaca' Released, What Do Genetic Scientists Think About It? The Wire Science - The Wire Science - August 20th, 2022
- A lasting inheritance: City of Hope replaced my family's fear with hope - City of Hope - August 20th, 2022
- Statistics on Global Esoteric Testing Market Size & Share to Surpass USD 37917.67 Million by 2028, Exhibit a CAGR of 11.10% | Industry Trends,... - August 20th, 2022
- Population Genetic Testing: Save Lives And Money, While Avoiding Financial Toxicity - Forbes - August 11th, 2022
- Care before carrying: The significant role of Preimplantation Genetic Testing during IVF - Times of India - August 11th, 2022
- More on Professor Sarnoff's Perspective on Tillis Patent Eligibility Bill - JD Supra - August 11th, 2022
- The Silver Lining Of Innovation in Genetic Medicine - Pharmaceutical Executive - August 11th, 2022
- High susceptibility of animal-borne disease transmission to humans has pushed the animal genetics market to surpass ~ US$ 8 Billion by 2026 - BioSpace - August 11th, 2022
- Fulgent Genetics Announces Launch of PCR Based Test to Detect Monkeypox - Business Wire - August 11th, 2022
- INVITAE CORP 10-Q Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Insurance News Net - August 11th, 2022
- U.P. man found guilty of poaching multiple 8-point deer ordered to pay $18K in restitution - MLive.com - August 11th, 2022
- Testing, Inspection, And Certification Market Worth $491.3 Billion by 2030: Grand View Research, Inc. - PR Newswire - August 11th, 2022
- BRCA Gene Mutation Can Be Passed Down From Father's Side - SurvivorNet - August 11th, 2022
- The Worldwide Genetic Testing Industry is Expected to Reach $26 Billion by 2027 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Galveston County Daily News - July 26th, 2022
- Genetic testing may benefit patients with depression - VAntage Point - VAntage Point Blog - July 26th, 2022
- What Does it Mean to be High Risk for Breast Cancer? - Integris - July 26th, 2022
- Boy has rare genetic disease, life expectancy is five to 10 years - Insider - July 26th, 2022
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market Research | Industry Growing with Major Key Player Illumina, Inc (U.S.), SciGene Corporation (U.S.), Thermo... - July 26th, 2022
- Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing Market Size, Scope, Growth Opportunities, Trends by Manufacturers And Forecast to 2029 This Is Ardee - This... - July 26th, 2022
- World IVF Day: 4 benefits of IVF treatment at the right age - Health shots - July 26th, 2022
- Global Metabolic Panel Testing Market to Grow with a CAGR of ~7% During 2022-2031; Market Growth to be Propelled by Increasing Prevalence of Chronic... - July 26th, 2022
- 3 Reasons to Buy This Sizzling Growth Stock - The Motley Fool - July 26th, 2022
- Monkeypox, yet another health emergency for world to cope with - China Daily - July 26th, 2022
- Rhinostics Launches the VERIstic to Redefine Small Volume Blood Collection - BioSpace - July 26th, 2022
- Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing Market Size, Forecast And Trend Analysis To 2028 This Is Ardee - This Is Ardee - July 26th, 2022
- PSS: Providing quick and effective solutions - The Worldfolio - July 26th, 2022
- Prevencio Announces Agreement with Alivio Health Expanding Access to AI-Driven Cardiac HART Tests Offered by Atlas Genomics - Business Wire - July 26th, 2022
- Myriad Genetics Teams Up with Epic to Make Genetic Testing Accessible to More Patients with Electronic Health Record (EHR) Integration - GlobeNewswire - June 28th, 2022
- Global Predictive Genetic Testing And Consumer/Wellness Genomics Market Emerging Scope Of The 2022 | Illumina, BGI, Genesis Genetics, Myriad Genetics ... - June 28th, 2022