03/23/2024

Breast cancer

From the abstract: "Poly(adenosine diphosphate–ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of patients with germline BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer, representing the first targeted therapy capable of improving outcomes in patients with hereditary tumors. However, resistance to PARP inhibitors occurs in almost all patients. This narrative review summarizes the biological rationale behind the use of PARP inhibitors in breast cancer, as well as the available evidence, recent progress, and potential future applications of these agents. Recent studies have shown that the benefit of PARP inhibitors extends beyond patients with germline BRCA1/2-associated metastatic breast cancer to patients with somatic BRCA1/2 variants and to those with germline PALB2 alterations. "

Autism

From the abstract: "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic component in which rare variants contribute significantly to risk. We performed whole genome and/or exome sequencing (WGS and WES) and SNP-array analysis to identify both rare sequence and copy number variants (SNVs and CNVs) in 435 individuals from 116 ASD families. We identified 37 rare potentially damaging de novo SNVs (pdSNVs) in the cases (n?=?144). "

Lynch syndrome

From the article: "It’s impossible to change our genes, but with knowledge comes power. In the case of Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that ups people’s risks for developing colorectal and other types of cancer, that’s especially true. Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month offers a reminder for everyone to examine their risk for colorectal cancer and to explore options for screening as well as genetic testing, when warranted. Lynch syndrome puts a person at a higher risk of developing colorectal, uterine, and ovarian cancer. It’s also associated with other cancers, including kidney, stomach, bladder, brain, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. "

Microbiome

From the article: "A growing body of research has suggested the potential for improving human health by better understanding the human microbiome. This research has led to the emergence of a global industry selling direct-to-consumer (DTC) microbiome testing services. Regulation of this industry has been generally ignored despite its having made a mark on the lifestyle health and wellness market. Yet companies’ claims of having the ability to detect “abnormal” microbiomes are not substantiated by research; the testing processes lack analytical validity, and the results have no demonstrated clinical validity. "