New breast cancer gene

I was diagnosed 6.5 years ago with breast cancer at age 50.  Because my father's family (sisters and grandmother) had developed  breast cancer before age 50, I was tested for the BRCA genes.  I was negative.  Recently I saw that a new gene, HMMR, has been identified.  Does one have to submit a new sample to look for that gene and any other new genes that are discovered?  Or can the original test results be re-evaluated?

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear ritaw:
A recent article was published that described HMMR as a gene that interacts in a complicated manner with other cancer-causing genes.  The article suggested that women who carry a variant of the HMMR gene may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer.  It is important to emphasize that this study took place in the research setting.  Thus, testing for HMMR is not likely to be available to the public in the near future.  

It does appear that the HMMR gene testing that was performed in the study utilized blood samples from research participants.   However, if HMMR gene testing becomes publicly available in the future, you will need to resubmit an additional blood sample to have this new testing performed.  Again, it is important to emphasize that this new testing was performed in the research setting.  There is likely only a small amount of information available regarding its implications for patients, and much more research will need to be done before it would be available for widespread testing.

In the meantime, you may want to re-contact the genetic counselor who ordered your original BRCA1/2 testing.  Advances in BRCA1/2 testing were released in August of 2006, and may be available for your consideration.