Within five years, we could find out how genetically predisposed we are to developing certain types of cancer. Through DNA screening, the most susceptible of us will be prompted to adapt our lifestyles accordingly and ultimately reduce the risk of developing the disease. The breakthrough has been hailed as the ‘the biggest leap forward yet in understanding the genetic basis of cancer’. But at what cost?
The good news is clear enough. Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research and Cambridge University have identified 74 ‘single nucleotide polymorphisms’ – small physical elements found on human DNA – that correlate with the probability of developing ovarian, breast and prostate cancer. Of these, 16 are linked with the more aggressive forms of cancer.
The idea is to introduce a nationwide saliva-based screening test to the NHS, which would cost the government £5 per person – a negligible amount compared to the hundreds of thousands currently spent on some patients suffering from progressive cancer.
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