The NHS is creating a first-of-its-kind database of 120 genes linked to cancer, allowing tens of thousands of patients to check their inherited risk. The register, part of a 10-year plan to improve prevention and treatment, includes the so-called 'Jolie' gene, named after actress Angelina Jolie, who underwent preventative surgery after discovering a heightened genetic risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Family members of cancer patients, as well as those already diagnosed, can have their genes compared to the database, enabling earlier screening and more personalised treatments. Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: 'We are entering a new era of cancer prevention with pioneering research and testing helping us to discover more about how genes influence our chances of developing cancer.'
The NHS National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Register (NICPR) builds on the success of the Lynch syndrome registry, which has identified thousands of people at risk and offered them routine preventative screening. Those identified with an inherited risk will be automatically invited for screening and offered routine tests, with the database also expediting access to personalised treatments.
Health secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the preventative approach, stating: 'One in every two people will get cancer in their lifetime, but that does not mean the chances are random – many people face a higher risk through the genes they inherit.' He added that the programme is part of efforts to modernise the NHS for the 21st century, providing personalised and preventative care sooner.
Claire Rowney, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said the system has the potential to 'transform lives'. The register is expected to be life-changing and life-saving, allowing the NHS to fast-track screening and tailored information to catch more cancers early.
