Genomics help Women of Color with Breast Cancer

April 7, 2011 By Robert Graham Reporting from AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011 Orlando, FL -----< Business--Wire>


Genomics help Women of Color with Breast Cancer

Genomics help women understand the genetic etiology of Breast Cancer and chronic diseases, we interviewed GenConnect Inc Chief Science Officer Joan Hilsenrath on GenC genomics objectives and how GenC pursues and accomplished results in multiple human populations.

Understanding the genetics of Breast Cancer diseases involves:
• locating and characterizing genes underlying the common chronic diseases,
• characterizing the extent and utility of DNA variation within and among populations and determining how these patterns of variation evolved in both time and space,
• Establishing the impact of gene variation on the health of individuals, families and populations.


At each step, the role of computational and biotech information approaches and resources are preeminent. Hilsenrath says that they are the world’s preeminent research unit focusing on the genetics of common chronic breast cancer disease.

GenConnect Inc researchers have used whole-genome sequencing to catalog the genetic alterations in tumors from patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. The goal of the study is to identify genetic factors that explain why some tumors respond to estrogen-lowering drugs and others do not.

GenConnect Inc says Women with ER-positive breast cancer take estrogen-lowering drugs, such as tamoxifen which is fifty percent toxic or aromatase inhibitors, to slow the growth of tumors, make the tumors easier to remove surgically, or prevent the re-growth of tumors after surgery or radiation.

In addition to commonly mutated genes included her-2 TP53. and TP3. GenC discovered, MAP3K1, a tumor-suppressor gene, was defective in 10 percent of patients. This was the first time the gene has been associated with breast cancer. The technology used to make this discovery

Genomics provide a faster cheaper more effective way to detect the Her2 gene by using Semiconductor Sequencing. A example of this technique is Semiconductor Sequencing uses Semiconductor Sequencing Chips that create a direct connection between Biochemical and digital information, bringing these two languages together. GenC chips are designed like any other semiconductor chips. Yes with a simple blood test women of color can reduce breast cancer. If someone in your family has a history of breast cancer as your oncologist for a Genomics Test.


Hilsenrath noted that Stand Up To Cancer Innovative Research Grants are special in that they allow some of the best and brightest young researchers across various disciplines to step out of their comfort zones and attempt to make major breakthroughs in the field with bold genomics research projects in the area of Breast Cancer in women of color.

Congress is looking at a $1.6 billion cut to NIH is on the table. With cutting lifesaving biomedical research would be devastating to the millions of Americans and their families affected by cancer.