Breast, Ovarian, Prostate, Pancreatic Cancers

Cancer Type

Tumor Tissue (FFPE) or Blood

Specimen Requirements

10 Working Days

Turnaround Time ¹

ACTBRCA® genetic tests detect mutations in BRCA1/2 genes, which can provide genetic information to evaluate whether a tumor is suitable for PARP inhibitors.

Comprehensive BRCA1/2 Genetic Testing

BRCA1/2

Cancer Genes Fully Decoded

30%

Ovarian Cancer Patient Carry BRCA1/2 mutations

Hallmarks

Complete BRCA Genetic Information

A comprehensive BRCA1/2 testing which includes coding exons and splicing regions. Uses NGS technology to detect multiple mutation types such as single nucleotide variants (SNVs), small insertions and deletions (InDels), as well as large genomic rearrangements (LGRs) through a proprietary algorithm (patent application in progress).

Up-to-date Bioinformatic Analysis based on International Databases

Bioinformatic analysis is carried out by a team of dedicated and experienced bioinformaticians with a solid clinical genetics background. Information extracted from international databases, such as gnomAD, 1000 Genome, ClinVar, COSMIC as well as ACT Genomics' in-house ethnographic database, provide relevant interpretation and useful insights on the variants identified.

Clear and Detailed Medical Reporting

The report provides recommendations in accordance with the latest ACMG Guidelines and AMP Guidelines, as well as other relevant information such as disease risk based on the currently available clinical literature.

Quality Guarantee

All tests carried out by ACT Genomics are conducted in a CAP-certified laboratory, which has also earned the LDTS (Laboratory Developed Tests and Services) certification by the Taiwan FDA.

Short Turnaround Time

Provides professional solutions within 10 working days (starting from the date of receipt of approved samples at our CAP-accredited laboratory).

Summary

Provides BRCA1/2 Genetic Information for PARP Inhibitor Treatment Selection

BRCA1/2 is the most common gene mutation in hereditary breast cancer and has also been found to be associated with ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, etc. In recent years, the selection of cancer patients who would most likely benefit from PARP inhibitor treatment has also relied on the detection of BRCA1/2 mutations, thus emphasizing the importance of BRCA1/2 genetic testing.

BRCA1/2 Genetic Information

Individuals with deleterious or likely deleterious germline BRCA1/2 mutations are known to have an increased lifetime risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancers2. Therefore, genetic testing for germline BRCA1/2 mutations allows the lifetime risk of hereditary cancers to be determined, so that risk mitigation actions, such as active surveillance and other preventive measures, can be taken timely through appropriate genetic counseling. According to the latest NCCN guidelines, genetic counseling is recommended for breast cancer patients and their families if they fulfill any of the following criteria3:

  1. Have a known pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in a cancer susceptibility gene
  2. Personal or family history of ovarian cancer
  3. Personal or family history of bilateral breast cancer
  4. Early-onset breast cancer at ≤45 years of age
  5. Triple-negative breast cancer at ≤60 years of age
  6. At least one close blood relative with breast cancer at ≤50 years of age or at least three total diagnoses of breast cancer in a family
  7. Family history of pancreatic cancer;(8) Family history of male breast cancer.

Consultation with a physician or a professional genetic counselor is highly recommended before, during and/or after the test

PARP Inhibitor Treatment

PARP inhibitors are pharmacological agents that block the activity of a family of DNA damage repair (DDR) proteins called PARPs, which are responsible for repairing single-strand breaks before DNA replication and cell division. If the single-strand breaks remain unrepaired and persist through the DNA replication process, double-strand breaks are formed as a result. PARP inhibitors cause the formation of double-strand breaks by trapping at the sites of single-strand DNA breaks4,5.

In tumors with homologous recombination repair (HRR) deficiency (also known as HRD, which is caused by mutations in BRCA1/2 or other HRR genes), these double-strand breaks cannot be properly repaired, ultimately leading to cell death in a phenomenon called synthetic lethality whereby the combination of two individually non-lethal defects (i.e., PARP inhibition and HRD) leads to a unique vulnerability6.

Clinical Experience from Ovarian Cancer: Both Germline and Somatic BRCA1/2 Mutations Play an Important Role in Cancer

The normal and tumor tissue samples of 99 patients with ovarian cancer were analyzed for BRCA1/2 mutations using next-generation genetic sequencing and Sanger gene sequencing. Pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants were found in 12 patients. It is notable in one patient that both germline BRCA1 and somatic BRCA2 mutations were found. Interestingly, all of the 12 patients with pathogenic BRCA1/2 mutations had serous carcinoma, suggesting that ovarian cancer with these BRCA gene mutations exhibit similar pathological morphology. Five of these 12 patients (~42%) had a BRCA gene mutation that was solely detectable in tumor tissue and not in normal tissue, indicative of the sporadic nature of these mutations. This study exemplifies that BRCA gene mutations, whether inherited or acquired, can play a key role in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer.

*Abbreviations: gBRCA: germline BRCA; sBRCA: somatic BRCA.

Technical Specifications

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

BRCA1 & BRCA2

Specimen Requirements7

Tumor tissue (FFPE) or blood

Sequencing Mean Depth

≥ 1000 x

Documentation

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Disclaimers / Footnotes

  1. Turnaround time starts from the date of receipt of approved samples at our CAP-accredited laboratory.
  2. Venkitaraman AR. (2009) Annu Rev Pathol. 4:461–487.
  3. NCCN Guidelines (2021. V. 5).
  4. Li X, Heyer WD. (2008) Cell Res. 18:99–113.
  5. Lord CJ, Ashworth A. (2016) Nat Rev Cancer 16:110–120.
  6. Hartwell LH, et al. (1997) Science. 278:1064–1068.
  7. Please refer to our specimen instructions.

Footnote:

  • Venkitaraman AR. Annu Rev Pathol 2009; 4: 461-487.
  • Lord CJ. et al. Science. 2017 Mar 17;355(6330):1152-1158.
  • O'Malley DM. et al. Mol Cancer Ther 2018;17(1 Suppl): Abstract nr LB-A12.
  • da Cunha Colombo Bonadio RR. et al. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2018 Aug 20;73(suppl 1):e450s.

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