Myriad Genetics MyRisk, RiskScore

Myriad Genetics on Monday launched a new version of its MyRisk Hereditary Cancer test that provides a polygenic risk (PRS) score to all breast cancer patients regardless of their ancestry. The company's MyRisk next-generation sequencing test analyzes 35 genes associated with eight hereditary cancers. Meanwhile, RiskScore, the PRS test, analyzes 140 SNPs that together can enhance the breast cancer risk assessments from MyRisk. 

Since 2017, Myriad has been providing a RiskScore only to women who self-identified as having European and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, and who test negative on MyRisk for known high-risk cancer gene mutations. However, the company recently recalibrated RiskScore for all ancestries. "Women who previously took the MyRisk test since 2017 and were unable to benefit from RiskScore due to genetic ancestry, will now be offered the opportunity to have their risk assessment updated by Myriad Genetics free of charge," the company said in a statement.

With the pan-ancestry PRS added, the company is hoping to provide accurate breast cancer risk assessments to more women. Around 95 percent of women test negative for mutations in genes known to increase their predisposition for cancer, even though they still may be at increased risk for the disease. Now the company estimates that more than half of the patients tested on MyRisk and RiskScore may qualify for increased screening or risk-reducing interventions.