Overview
Hereditary cancer testing assesses inherited genetic variants that may increase an individual’s lifetime risk of developing certain cancers.
These test are used to support diagnosis, guide clinical management, and inform risk assessment for patients and at-risk relatives.
EDX Medical offers comprehensive hereditary cancer testing using validated multi-gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels from BGI Genomics.
What is Hereditary Cancer Testing?
A proportion of cancers arises due to inherited (germline) genetic variants that affect cancer-predisposition genes.
Identifying these variants can help:
- Clarify the cause of cancer in affected patients
- Inform treatment and surveillance decisions
- Assess cancer risk in unaffected relatives
Testing is typically considered where there is:
- A personal history of cancer at young age
- Multiple related cancers in a family
- Tumour features suggestive of hereditary risk
SENTIS™ Hereditary Cancer Panel (BGI)
The SENTIS™ Hereditary Cancer Panelanalyses germline variants across over 100 cancer-predisposition genes, covering more than 20 hereditary cancer types, including:
- Breast and Ovarian cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Other hereditary tumours
The panel is designed to detect clinically relevant sequence variants and copy number changes using a single NGS assay.
Key Features
- Broad multi-gene coverage in a single assay
- Detection of point mutations, insertions, deletions, duplications, and rearrangements
- Clinically significant variants verified using orthogonal methods
- Testing available from blood or saliva samples
- Access to genetic counselling support
- Clinical Use
Hereditary testing may be used to:
- Confirm or clarify a suspected inherited cancer syndrome
- Support treatment selection and surveillance planning
- Guide cascade testing in family members
- Inform long-term risk management strategies
Who May Be Considering for Testing
Testing may be appropriate for:
- Patients with cancer and features suggestive of hereditary risk
- Individuals with a strong family history of cancer
- Unaffected relatives of individuals with known pathogenic variants
Availability Through EDX Medical
Hereditary cancer testing using the SENTIS™ panel is available in the UK through EDX Medical.
For ordering information, turnaround times, and pathway integration, please contact EDX Medical.
EDX Medical Commitment to Patients:
At EDX Medical, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of patient care. Your well-being, safety, and rights are our top priorities in all aspects of our laboratory services.
If you have any information or context that may assist our team in interpreting your test results, or if you wish to discuss, or provide feedback, about any aspect of your testing process, please don’t hesitate to contact us via our contact page. Your input is valued and vital to our mission of delivering safe, reliable, and clinically meaningful laboratory services.
