Angelina Jolie’s surgery draws attention to oncogene screening

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has undergone a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of contracting breast cancer. It has made BRCA1 gene known to the public and has ignited people’s concerns about oncogene screening.

What’s more, it has also accelerated the patent war of genes. The U.S. supreme court will make a ruling of milestone significance for the biotech company Myriad Genetics cases in June.

The company is the owner of the individual research and develop patent of tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 and BRCA2. Some people have questioned the monopoly because it will block innovation in the related area, and sacrifice patients’ interests for company’s profits.

Chinese women should not take this gene screening blindly
　　
“The gene mutation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 has high incidence rate in Jewish. Currently, there is no evidence showing that they exist in Asian people,” said Rao Jianyu, a Professor Pathology and Epidemiology with the University of California at Los Angeles. Chinese women should not take this gene scanning blindly.

Is the preventability resection for breast cancer a good choice for Asian people? Li Huiping, doctor from Tumor Hospital of Beijing University, said with the improving treatment level, breast cancer diagnosed in the early phase can be cured.

People with family cancer history can take the gene detection for early examination and treatment as soon as possible.
　
Gene patents result in expensive detection charge

Even in the United States, the country with higher income, the gene detection of BRCA1 and BRCA2 charges more than 3,000 U.S. dollars, something average people cannot afford.

Myriad Genetics acquired the BRCA1 gene patent a decade ago. The company is paid 2,400 U.S. dollars for every test for mutations on the BRCA genes.　
In 2009, the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and patient advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against Myriad for its exclusive right to test for mutations.　　

To find the susceptibility gene for Asian people

The Human Genome Project, worth 3 billion U.S. dollars, has started in 1990. Nowadays, the cost of measurement of an individual genome sequences reduce to 1,000 U.S. dollars.

Unlike the United States, Asia is with relatively high incidence of gastric cancer and lung where related study has also been launched. Scientists expect that genetic testing will be as popular as the blood pressure measurement in the next five to 10 years. By then, how will this change our life?

Edited and translated by Ma Xi, People's Daily Online
Read the Chinese version: 人类基因专利战升级 肿瘤基因筛查引争议
Source: Science and Technology Daily

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