Download Breast Cancer Genes

ObG Watch
June 2013
Narayanan
Breast Cancer Genes
Women with mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
have up to an 80 percent chance of getting breast cancer
at some point in life.
Other genes may be linked to
breast cancer risk as well.
"My doctors estimated
that I had an 87% risk of
breast cancer (12% in
average woman) and a
50% risk of ovarian
cancer," wrote Jolie,
whose mother was
diagnosed with ovarian
cancer at 46 years of age
and died a decade later.
“Epitome
of individualized medicine”
- Topol E, Editor in chief, Medscape
Recommendations
• 2 first-degree relatives (mother, daughter, or sister) diagnosed with breast
cancer, one of whom was younger than 50 years
• 3 or more first- or second-degree relatives (aunt or grandmother) diagnosed
regardless of age
• combination of first- and second-degree relatives diagnosed with breast and
ovarian cancer regardless of age
• first-degree relative with bilateral breast cancer
• breast cancer in a male relative
• combination of 2 or more first- or second-degree relatives with ovarian
cancer
• The BRCA gene only accounts for 5% to 10% of breast cancer
-US preventive Task Force
BRCA2 gene
Sword of Damocles
• 53 year old Man from London was the first to undergo
prophylactic Prostatectomy
• BRCA2 mutation has an 8.6-fold increased risk of
developing prostate cancer
• It is more aggressive and more likely to be fatal
-J Clin Oncol 2013;31:17-18-1757
Man may disappear!
“The poorly designed Y
chromosome that makes men is
degrading rapidly and will
disappear, even if humans are
still around”
- Evolutionary geneticist, Jenny Graves
Australian National university
Why will ‘Y’ disappear?
• Y chromosome is active mostly making sperms
in the testes, which is a "very dangerous" place
owing to the constant division of cells
• With every cell division, there is a chance for a
mutation or gene loss
• The Y chromosome is all alone in the male, but
in the female, the 2 Xs can swap bits and repair
themselves
• If the Y gets a hit it's a downward spiral
" Three hundred million years ago the Y
chromosome had about 1,400 genes on it, and
now it's only got 45 left, so at this rate we're
going to run out of genes on the Y
chromosome in about five million years
The Y chromosome is dying and the big
question is what happens then"
- Graves
‘Adam leaf’ underpants
• Dragan Tadic is showing off
"Adam's Leaf" underpants he
invented
• According to Tadic, the
underwear is designed with a
special "pocket" where
genitals are placed to keep
cool thanks to better air
circulation
• He claims it prevents sterility
and improvess greater sexual
desire and potency
Fallopian tube & Ovarian cancer
Recently, the distal Fallopian tube has attracted
considerable attention not only as site of origin
for serous cancer in women with BRCA
mutations, but also as the anatomical location
where the majority of serous ovarian cancers
apparently develop
• Bilateral salpingectomy at the time of ovarianpreserving hysterectomy is becoming more
accepted as a risk-reducing strategy for both
serous carcinoma and adnexal masses
• It is estimated that there will be a 50%
reduction in ovarian cancer in 20 years if
salpingectomy is performed at the time of
hysterectomy or tubal sterilization
-The ongoing British Columbia Ovarian Cancer Prevention
Project
Are stitched
Gold is making a come back!
• A gold-based plasmonic nanocomposite
wrapped in elastic material is soldered to
wound edges using laser for approximation
• It creates a 'liquid-tight' seal that could prevent
harmful internal fluid leaks
• This “Laser Tissue Welding” may bid ‘good
bye’ to sutures & staples in future
The comparison
Gold as Anti cancer Agent
• "In the past few years, there has been a
resurgence of interest in the medicinal
chemistry of gold compounds, particularly as
anticancer agents.
• Certain gold compounds are selectively toxic to
cancer cells but not to normal cells.
• Using gold as a potential treatment for cancer
could soon become a reality, thanks to a
combination of imaging techniques.
Technology
• Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry enables the visualisation of the gold at a
subcellular level
• Energy filtered transmission electron
microscopy – which gives element maps for the
gold allows one to see nuclear and
mitochondrial morphology
-University of Western Australia and Griffith University
Cost of having a baby in US
• Average total payments for maternal and newborn care
with cesarean births were about 50% higher than
average payments with vaginal births.
• Commercial payers: $27,866 (Rs 15.35 Lac) for Cs vs
$18,329 (10.0 Lac) for vaginal delivery and Medicaid
paid: $13,590 (7.5 Lac) vs. $9,131 (5.0 Lac)
• Commercial payers paid an extra $1,464 (Rs 82000) to
clinicians and $7,518 (Rs 41000) to facilities for
cesarean versus vaginal births.
Have a Good Day!