HealthChip Warns of Cancer

A Healthchip made up of many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may serve as an early warning system for six common cancers: breast, colon, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate.

In internal testing, the HealthChip correctly identified the type of cancer in 85% of cases. None of the healthy subjects were misdiagnosed. More testing is required to confirm these results, according to GenoMed, Inc. (St. Louis, MO, USA), which developed the HealthChip.

The breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 account for only 5% of breast cancers in white women. GenoMed believes its SNPs may pick up the remaining 95% of sporadic breast cancer cases in white women without a strong family history of breast cancer. Testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes costs about U.S.$1,200 and has been available for about a decade. GenoMed's test is currently available for research purposes only.


"It's important for any screening test to have as few false-positives as possible. GenoMed's Healthchip currently has none,” observed Dr. David Moskowitz, chairman and CEO of GenoMed.

GenoMed next plans to collect patient samples from additional cancer types and additional ethnic groups so as to increase the scope and usefulness of its HealthChip. The company is also involved in marketing its protocols to prevent kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes and to delay the progression of emphysema.






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