Breast and Ovarian BRCA Testing
BRCA Plus Panel Sequencing
Our preferred genomic laboratory provides a BRCA Plus panel that covers both the BRCA1 & BRCA2 tumour suppressor genes, as well as 10 other genes commonly associated with breast and ovarian cancers.
BRCA Plus testing can be performed using somatic (tissue) samples in patients currently diagnosed with cancer, or germline (blood) samples in patients who are at an elevated risk of developing cancer.
The BRCA Plus analysis may identify the underlying genetic mutations that are unique to your cancer and can be useful for patients wanting to determine their risk of familial cancer.
For patients with a cancer diagnosis, testing of their tumour tissue can help provide information on potential therapeutic options and likely resistance, as well as clinical trials and new treatments they may be able to access.
For those wanting to determine if they have an inherited BRCA mutation, with or without a cancer diagnosis, our preferred laboratory also provides germline testing options, available using either blood or mouth swab samples.
Testing can help to assess an individual’s risk of developing cancer and offer personalised care.
The tests listed on this page are just a few of the genomic tests available to cancer patients. To discuss any of the listed tests or how genomic testing can help you – Contact GRACE
Oncotype DX test
Of the 20,000 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer each year, about 3000 to 3500 could be undergoing chemotherapy when they didn’t need it.
For the 65 per cent of women who have hormone receptor positive HER2 negative cancers, genomic testing was a reliable way to way to give patients more information to base their treatment decisions on, Dr Clay said.
“There are some women with types of cancer that are very high risk and definitely require chemotherapy,” he said.
“Then there’s a group of women with intermediate-risk cancers where there is a balance between the benefits of chemotherapy and side effects.
“The test works in both directions, it predicts people who won’t benefit, but it also identifies who will benefit and who really needs these treatments.”
