Sir, Dr Helen Wallace notes that new cancer therapies have resulted from studying gene mutations that arise as part of the development of cancer (letter, June 10). But new treatments for cancer will also follow from studying our inherited genetic make-up. Two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, profoundly affect the risk of women developing cancer of the breast and ovaries. These discoveries have both predictive implications about the risk of developing cancer and also have important implications for the development of new treatments, some of which are in clinical trials at present.
Where Dr Wallace is correct is that the tests that link one’s genetic make-up to the risk of future illness are unregulated at present and that some companies are making claims about genetic risk that are unreliable. However, something being done badly is not an argument against doing it well.
Research into our genetic make-up is delivering new knowledge that is crucial to understanding the differences between each of us in health and disease. These discoveries are identifying newly discovered pathways that cause chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma. These will provide completely new opportunities for the development of new diagnostics and preventive treatments, though it is important to recognise that these take a long time from gestation to implementation.
I agree with Giles Whittell’s conclusions (Opinion, June 8) that it suits him and the NHS to buy screening services and therapies based on genetic discoveries.
Sir Mark Walport
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Director, the Wellcome Trust