LabGenomics announced that it is officially launching 'Cancer4Cast,' a genetic cancer prediction panel test utilizing NGS technology.

Cancer Forecast is a test that analyzes genes that can cause cancer. It is a genetic test for cancer prediction that can be performed when the risk of developing hereditary cancer is deemed high, such as when there is a family history of specific cancers or a family member was diagnosed with cancer at an early age.

While existing cancer prediction genetic tests analyze dozens of SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) using a microarray method, Cancer Forecast provides more accurate and reliable results by analyzing over 40,000 base sequence variations present in 36 types of genes based on NGS technology.

Representative hereditary cancers include breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and colorectal cancer. It is known that 5–10% of breast cancer cases, 10–25% of ovarian cancer cases, and about 10% of colorectal cancer cases are caused by genetic factors.

Existing familial cancer prediction tests performed sequencing analysis on specific genes based on the type of cancer with a family history, and the testing period took more than 1 to 2 months. Cancer Forecast is characterized by utilizing NGS analysis technology to test various genetic items simultaneously, thereby shortening the testing period while providing accurate analysis results.

If a pathogenic mutation is detected in a specific gene as a result of the test, it presents a numerical value of the lifetime risk of developing cancer caused by it and provides cancer risk management guidelines (such as the timing of starting cancer screening, types and frequency of tests) in accordance with the latest guidelines presented by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), thereby offering more specific and useful information to the examinee. It has the advantage of assisting in the health management of family members by providing a numerical value of the probability that not only the examinee but also their family members carry the same mutation.

"CancerForecast is a preventive testing service designed to allow individuals in high-risk groups, such as those with a family history of cancer, to identify their hereditary predisposition to cancer and prepare in advance," said a LabGenomics official. "We expect it to significantly contribute to the application and advancement of NGS technology in the field of prevention, alongside existing treatment services like CancerScan."