Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11514

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Lenzer J.
Advert for breast cancer gene test triggers inquiry
BMJ 2007 Sep 22; 335:(7620):579
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/335/7620/579-a?etoc

Abstract:

A controversial television advertisement in the United States encouraging women to undergo genetic testing to determine their risk of breast cancer has triggered an inquiry into claims made by the advertiser, Myriad Genetics.

The women in the advertisement appear to be in their early 20s to late 50s, and each says she has a relative with breast cancer. A couple of the women say they want to get “BRACAnalysis” to learn about their risk of breast cancer and “do something about it.”

Some cancer specialists say that this “direct to consumer” campaign is unnecessarily alarmist. A New York Times article reports that the Connecticut attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, has issued a subpoena for information about the test saying, “There’s enough serious and significant doubt about the accuracy of some of their claims that we feel a strong need to investigate” (www.nytimes.com, 11 Sep, “A genetic test that very . . .