The potential benefits of online genetic testing for lung cancer

How do scientists continue to decipher the human genome and the information becomes accessible to the public, private, online, genetic testing increased. Scientists from the National Institutes of Health was concerned that perhaps these tests present a risk.

It estimates, based on an online test for smokers who have or not a common genetic variant with the risk of lung cancer. The results, published in the latest edition of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, pose a number of new issues, but also some concerns early.

"Until now we have a clear model for genetic testing. You will receive a professional genetic counselor, a series of tests, as professionals and helps you interpret your results," said Saskia Sanderson, Phil . D., postdoc in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, studied the work on social behavior and Sciences Research Division of the National Human Genome Research Institute NIH.

"This model is increasingly under pressure as more and more genetic information is produced, and a greater number of genetic tests are available on the Internet," said Sanderson. "What we found was encouraging that people who have online these genetic results recalls correctly, and nobody regrets that the test, but it is important to remember that this is a small group smokers and choose you than others might react differently. "

Higher risk patients appear genetically short-term signs of declining confidence in the fact that smoking may reduce the risk of lung cancer, but scientists are aware that all those under consideration at least l one of the bids announced aid to smoking cessation.

"Genetic information is complex and there is a risk that unfiltered information to redouble their concern and misinterpretations of the results," said Jamie Ostroff, Ph.D., head of IT services on changes in behavior Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and a Member of the Editorial Office of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. "This pilot study was no damage to these tests, and stresses the importance of the implementation of research programs in the future, better education on the Gen-smokers on the risks to the environment."

Researchers are reluctant, examinations on the basis of this study, since the sample was limited to 44 people who biological man with lung cancer and smoke. The online test assesses the presence or absence of the GSTM1 gene, whose absence has been a slight increase in risk of lung cancer.

Exactly half of smokers lacking GSTM1 and therefore higher risk, and the other half had GSTM1 available. All persons missing GSTM1 properly identified himself as "more likely." GSTM1 among this group, 55% correctly labeled as "risky" performer, while 41 percent of its results as "medium risk".

This model of interpretation remained six months, indicating that these people receive the information.

Overall, those who have found this test, the results are credible, reliable, easy to understand, relevant and important. To follow up, no one regrets the test.

After the examination, all smokers to certain types of help to quit smoking no difference between the risk more or less groups at risk. Scientists agree that whatever the result of genetic testing, smoking is the most important step may be a smoker in the prevention of lung cancer and more study is needed to determine whether our knowledge of genetics encourages individual risk, with the stop smoking.