It is important for individualised screening and prevention of breast cancer because the majority of Asian women have a low risk of developing breast cancer. Only a small proportion have inherited genetic factors that are associated with an increased risk of the disease.
This is why the Polygenic Risk Score (PRS), which can be used to predict the likelihood of a woman developing breast cancer based on her genetic sequence, has important implications.
The subsequent results can empower women to decide which screening and prevention is right for them, and help reduce inefficiency, unnecessary cost, and even possible harm caused by over-diagnosis.
PRS was successfully developed by Malaysian and Singaporean scientists in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. It can assess breast cancer risk among Asian women.
Women at age 50 are generally recommended to start screening. However, many women in most Asian countries could be at risk of breast cancer do not go for screening. This leads to late detection and a lower survival rate.
Professor Nur Aishah Mohd Taib from Universiti Malaysa’s Cancer Research Institute says the risk-based screening may be particularly important in low and middle resource countries that do not have population-based screening, such as Malaysia.
There is an urgent need to develop an appropriate screening strategy for Asian women.
Malaysia anticipates a 49 per cent increase in breast cancer cases from 2012 to 2025. Malaysia also has a much lower five-year survival rate compared to other Asian countries at only 63 per cent, whereas South Korea stands at 92 per cent and Singapore at 80 per cent.
Source: Meera Murugesan (NST.COM.MY) & MAYO CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM
