Quest Diagnostics to develop expanded breast cancer gene database
Quest Diagnostics Inc, the largest provider of diagnostic testing services in the world, is working together with the national health agency of France to develop a broadened database for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
It will help in determining the patient's hereditary risks of ovarian as well as breast cancer.
Quest Diagnostics, the New Jersey based firm said that other public laboratories and diagnostic testing firms can also take part in the project, dubbed BRCA Share. However, the firm will charge a yearly fee for giving access to the curated database.
Quest's biggest American rival in diagnostics testing, Laboratory Corporation of America, will participate in the project.
The collects All the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing details are collected by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research in France with the help of 16 laboratories. These labs are part of the Unicancer Genetic Group and keep a database that forms the base of the project.
Charles Strom, vice president for genetics and genomics at Quest Diagnostics said that with the help of the expanded pool, the firm can carry out further research.
There are various mutations in both, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that are known to increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancer. However, there are many other probable mutations in the genes whose importance is not known.
Other than LabCorp and Quest, the University of Washington in Seattle, Invitae Corp and also Ambry Genetics offer BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene testing.
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