HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Genetic Counseling appt./Which tests to ask for?

RobinP · 11-20-2008, 07:58 AM

Hi Vic,

My genetic counseling and testing was done some time ago too in 2004, and at that point I had BRCA1 and BRCA2 done. Today, there may be a few other test around, but I haven't heard that any are available. From everything I understand her2 bc is not STRONGLY associated with BRAC. There are some theories that her2 bc is associated with the faulty x-linked gene, but there are no tests for that, which I am aware of. There are also some indications that her2 is an emergency redox pathway stimulated by mutagens.

Now PTEN is an tumor suppressor gene that actually helps down-regulate the her2 pathway, but it is not the cause of her2 being stimulated to begin with. Having PTEN is a good thing and not having it is an indication that you may not respond to HERCEPTIN as well as others. Herceptin partly works by activating and turning PTEN back on, so PTEN can suppress proliferation events of her2. But if you don't have PTEN to begin with, Herceptin can't turn on the tumor suppressor, PTEN. THat's way its nice to be PTEN positive. Most people today, don't have PTEN tested so see if they will respond to Herceptin. Perhaps, that will be offered in the future routinely. (PS- I know that I am PTEN positive, as I was tested via a private lab with my own funding.-it was very expensive. I did it to see if it was worth taking late Herceptin. I WAS POSITIVE FOR PTEN SO I DID LATE HERCEPTIN AS YOU'LL NOTE BELOW FOR 9 WKS. )

Note that a genetic counselor is not the one to ask for PTEN testing. If you want that, go visit TARGETED MOLECULAR DIAGOSTICS ONLINE AND DR. SARAH BACCUS CAN DO THE TEST.

fOR MORE ON PTEN AND HERCEPTIN RESISTANCE SEE LANI'S LINK:
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=36697

11-20-2008, 07:58 AM	#7
RobinP Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 943	Hi Vic, My genetic counseling and testing was done some time ago too in 2004, and at that point I had BRCA1 and BRCA2 done. Today, there may be a few other test around, but I haven't heard that any are available. From everything I understand her2 bc is not STRONGLY associated with BRAC. There are some theories that her2 bc is associated with the faulty x-linked gene, but there are no tests for that, which I am aware of. There are also some indications that her2 is an emergency redox pathway stimulated by mutagens. Now PTEN is an tumor suppressor gene that actually helps down-regulate the her2 pathway, but it is not the cause of her2 being stimulated to begin with. Having PTEN is a good thing and not having it is an indication that you may not respond to HERCEPTIN as well as others. Herceptin partly works by activating and turning PTEN back on, so PTEN can suppress proliferation events of her2. But if you don't have PTEN to begin with, Herceptin can't turn on the tumor suppressor, PTEN. THat's way its nice to be PTEN positive. Most people today, don't have PTEN tested so see if they will respond to Herceptin. Perhaps, that will be offered in the future routinely. (PS- I know that I am PTEN positive, as I was tested via a private lab with my own funding.-it was very expensive. I did it to see if it was worth taking late Herceptin. I WAS POSITIVE FOR PTEN SO I DID LATE HERCEPTIN AS YOU'LL NOTE BELOW FOR 9 WKS. ) Note that a genetic counselor is not the one to ask for PTEN testing. If you want that, go visit TARGETED MOLECULAR DIAGOSTICS ONLINE AND DR. SARAH BACCUS CAN DO THE TEST. fOR MORE ON PTEN AND HERCEPTIN RESISTANCE SEE LANI'S LINK: http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=36697 __________________ Robin 2002- dx her2 positive DCIS/bc TX Mast, herceptin chemo Last edited by RobinP; 11-20-2008 at 08:13 AM..