Jan 13, 2009 9:19 am US/Pacific
Genetic Testing May Help In Fight Against Cancer
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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Some women are at a greater risk of contracting breast cancer because of a genetic mutation. Now... doctors are working to 'screen' for this mutation, even before a baby is born. (File Photo)
CBS
British researchers say they have found a way to stop one of the deadliest forms of breast cancer from being passed down from mother to daughter. They do it from screening cells from an embryo. It's done through genetic testing. The exam allows parents to possibly stop a cycle of diseases that can be deadly.
BRCA-1 is the gene doctors are able to screen for before a baby is even born.
Dr. Jirair Konanialian says, "women who have this gene have 80% chance of developing breast cancer and approximately 50-60% chance of developing ovarian cancer."
Doctors in England are celebrating the birth of the first baby genetically-selected without the BRCA-1 gene.
Dr. Paul Serhal at the University of London Hospital says, "we've demonstrated now that this can be screened for and we can avoid the transmission of this nasty disease."
Konanialian explains, "the procedure is done by taking out one cell from an embryo."
It's called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or PGD. The parents of the baby use in vitro fertilization to create embryos. A laser is then used to select a single cell to test and only the embryos without the breast-ovarian cancer gene were implanted.
Konanialian says, "we can apply the same technology to so many other genetic diseases."
The medical breakthrough is exciting, and as Dr. Konanialian explains, it will impact many generations to come, but it's not a cure-all because not all forms of breast cancer are triggered by this form of genetic mutation.
There are critics however, who have ethical problems with this form of testing, fearing that doctors may try to screen out all defects.
Doctors have said the procedure is extremely expensive. One doctor estimated that it can cost as much as $20,000.
Watch the story in the video player to find out more.
For more information on cancer resources, click on the links below.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
ThinkCure: the Official Charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers
American Cancer Society
FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered
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