I have the privilege of managing and being the sole provider in a unique program. I work in the Hereditary Cancer Program at Saint Louis University Cancer Center, where I provide risk assessment services and education about genetic testing to individuals and families in the region. It’s an amazing nursing role, and I can truly help people prevent cancer and manage their risk.

BRCA gene testing is on the rise for women who do not meet the referral requirements based on family history, researchers reported in study findings published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. At the same time, many high-risk women do not obtain the test and remain unidentified.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have demonstrated that random, unpredictable DNA copying mistakes account for nearly two-thirds of the mutations that cause cancer. The results were reported in Science.

In mouse experiments, researchers have found that immune T cells that have been genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) using a new tool called CRISPR were more effective than CAR T cells that were engineered with conventional methods. The findings were reported in Nature.

Imagine a situation where a patient’s tumor cells were used for countless scientific experiments—without the patient’s informed consent. Safeguards are in place today to prevent such an ethical breach, but in 1951 Henrietta Lacks and her family weren’t as lucky. Author Rebecca Skloot shared Henrietta’s story in a 2010 nonfiction book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, that was adapted into a movie released on April 22, 2017.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing authorization to ipsogen JAK2 RGQ PCR Kit, manufactured by Qiagen GmbH., to detect mutations affecting the Janus Tyrosine Kinase 2 (JAK2) gene. This is the first FDA-authorized test intended to help physicians in evaluating patients for suspected Polycythemia Vera (PV).

Every year, oncology research marches toward new, innovative treatments for patients with cancer. Cancer research is a cumulative process—building upon itself year after year—but, with time, major changes begin to make their way into practices across the country. Some of these advancements stand to change the face of cancer treatment for years to come. In a field of constant evolution, oncology nurses and their colleagues need to stay abreast of developments in science and technology as new knowledge is uncovered in the treatment of cancer.

A new genetic test that analyzes multiple sources of DNA may be able to detect high-risk cervical cancer more accurately than other available tests: it showed 90.9% sensitivity in identifying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 lesions. The findings from the proof-of-concept study were reported in Cancer Prevention Research.

Until 2011, no effective therapeutic options existed for advanced thyroid cancer. However, thanks to clinical studies that have improved the understanding of thyroid cancer’s molecular basis, four kinase inhibitors were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The study of genetics for cancer research has become a priority in the oncology community. With the introduction of the Genomic Data Commons, the importance of understanding genetic markers in cancer populations may lead to new ways of treating the numerous forms of the disease.

The National Cancer Institute has partnered with Foundation Medicine, Inc., in a new effort to expand the understanding of genomics and clinical data. This is a core component of the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative that President Obama announced in January 2016.

Researchers have found that a subtype of muscle-invasive bladder cancer shares molecular signatures with some forms of breast cancer, opening the door for new ways of treating the disease. The findings were published in the new journal JCI Insight.

Since the concepts of inheritance, genetics, and medical genetics were introduced, researchers have found that many factors other than the presence or absence of a single gene predict disease.

Researchers at Cancer Research UK have reported that in one month, “citizen scientists” have used a new smartphone game, Play to Cure: Genes in Space, to analyze DNA data that would have taken a scientist six months to analyze manually.

People with a presumed hereditary risk for cancer have more options than ever when it comes to calculating the reality of that risk. The possibilities are both empowering and daunting. What tests are they eligible for? Will insurance cover the testing? And what implications do the results have?