Personalized preventive medicine using genomic information: future perspective and corresponding research plan

Area of Science:

• Genomic Medicine
• Preventive Oncology
• Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

• Personalized cancer screening using genomic information shows promise for effective cancer prevention.
• Current methods face challenges like low individual risk from most genetic variants and limited genetic counseling experience for healthy populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a feasibility study for personalized cancer screening using a germline cancer genomic panel.
• To adapt hereditary cancer counseling practices for preventive medicine settings.
• To establish a framework for identifying individuals at high risk for hereditary cancers.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a germline cancer genomic panel (30-80 high-risk genes, e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2) to detect pathogenic variants.
• Providing genetic counseling by certified medical doctors and genetic counselors.
• Leveraging the Kanagawa Prospective "ME-BYO" Cohort Study infrastructure.

Main Results:

• The study is initiating a feasibility assessment.
• It aims to address counseling differences between clinical and preventive contexts.
• The goal is to inform future guidelines for hereditary cancer risk identification.

Conclusions:

• This research bridges genomic research and preventive medicine.
• It lays the groundwork for personalized cancer screening strategies based on genetic data.
• The initiative contributes to advancing early detection and risk stratification for hereditary cancers.