First Advisor

Hyunjee Kim

Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology and University Honors

Department

Biology

Language

English

Subjects

Human chromosome abnormalities -- Diagnosis -- Costs, Medical economics -- United States, BRCA genes, Discrimination in medical care, Breast -- Cancer -- United States -- Statistics, African Americans -- Diseases -- United States, White Americans -- Diseases -- United States

DOI

10.15760/honors.1455

Abstract

Breast cancer develops due to accumulated DNA replication insults which causes cancer to uncontrollably proliferate. An individual's predisposition to developing cancer, as well as the composition of a tumor, can be sequenced using genetic tests. Myriad's BRACAnalysis CDx® seems to be the most utilized genetic test. However, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) seems to be a better genetic test for breast cancer when compared to Myriad's BRACAnalysisCDx® in terms of return-time, accuracy, efficiency, and healthcare cost. By using Next Generation Sequencing tests, stakeholders can save money on genetic testing which can be invested in more genetic tests. Payers can also save money by establishing a population-based testing strategy for breast cancer as compared to the family-history/clinical history-based distribution currently in place in America to reduce preventable deaths. There was found to be a large disparity between breast cancer emergence and survival rates between Black individuals and White individuals. To best address this disparity in the interest of equality, programs should use a population-based method of dispersal of NGS tests for breast cancer.

Comments

An undergraduate thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts/Science in University Honors and Biology.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/41378

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