Inventors:
Athanasios I. Zavras - Dover MA, US
Assignee:
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE - CAMBRIDGE MA
International Classification:
C12Q 1/68, A61B 5/00, G01N 33/566
Abstract:
A system for determining individualized risk of developing aerodigestive cancers or cancers of the liver is described. Methods and compositions for assessing ERCC5 and/or IGF2R genetic variation and expression and their effects in view of certain environmental exposures in determining the risk of an individual for developing one or more epithelial cancers are provided. The system includes a kit used to collect a DNA sample from an individual and data related to the individual's medical and occupational history, use of tobacco and alcohol products as well as the individual's environment. An algorithm may be applied to transform the DNA sample and data into an individualized risk score, accounting for inter-individual variation in genetic profile and environmental/lifestyle exposures. The risk score may be indicative of the individual's risk of having or developing epithelial cancer, and the cancers prognosis. The risk score may be distributed to one or more of the individual, physician and other personnel. Test results and risk score have novel clinical utilities; diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment programs and activities may be facilitated by one or more of the kit and the risk score.