SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – 23andMe Holding Co. (NASDAQ: ME), a leader in consumer genetics and research, has launched three new health reports for its 23andMe+ members, providing insights into the individual risk of developing breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer. These reports utilize polygenic risk scores (PRS), which assess thousands of genetic variants to calculate a person's likelihood of being diagnosed with these cancers.
The introduction of these PRS reports comes amid findings that cancer rates have surged 79% since 1990 among individuals under 50, according to a BMJ Oncology study. The American Cancer Society noted a particular increase in early-onset colorectal cancer diagnoses, doubling since 1995. With breast and colorectal cancers leading in early diagnoses, 23andMe's new offerings aim to integrate genetic risk assessment into personal healthcare and preventative measures.
Noura Abul-Husn, Vice President of Genomic Health at 23andMe, emphasized the growing support for PRS in disease prevention and its adoption in oncology for clinical decision-making. The company hopes these reports will enable customers and healthcare providers to develop tailored prevention strategies.
The PRS models were created by 23andMe scientists and validated externally, drawing from the company's extensive database. However, the reports have limitations. They do not diagnose or represent overall likelihood of developing the conditions and exclude certain genetic variants, including those linked to hereditary syndromes. Additionally, the colorectal cancer report is currently only available for people of European and Latino/Hispanic descent due to data limitations.
To address the underrepresentation of other ethnicities in genetic research, 23andMe has initiated a study on colorectal cancer in the Black community, inviting participation to enrich data and improve the PRS for informing Black and African Americans about their genetic risk.
The company, known for its direct-to-consumer genetic testing, now offers over 40 PRS reports. These tools analyze complex genetic interactions to inform on conditions or diseases, reinforcing 23andMe's commitment to personalized healthcare. For more information on the new PRS reports and membership options, individuals can visit the 23andMe website.
This news is based on a press release statement from 23andMe.
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