Ioana Cristina Rotar

Moderate-Low Risk Breast Cancer Gene Expression in a Romanian Population

Multigene panel testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer is becoming a standard in medical care. Recent studies highlight the importance of pathogenic variants in genes with moderate or low penetrance. 255 consecutive breast cancer cases who met the criteria for genetic testing were approached by next-generation sequencing. From 104 pathogenic mutations identified, 21 were in moderate-risk genes, three in low-risk genes and eight in the group with insufficient evidence genes. The most frequent PVs in moderate-risk genes were in the CHEK2 gene—Checkpoint kinase 2 gene (13 cases), the ATM gene—Ataxia-telangiectasia Mutated gene (six cases), BARD1—BRCA1-associated ring domain 1 gene (one case) and RAD 51C–radiation sensitive 51 Paralog C—(one case) genes. Among the low-risk genes, we identified only three pathogenic mutations (two in MSH1 gene—melanocyte-stimulating hormone gene—and one in MLH1 gene—MutL homolog 1 gene). Reporting on low-risk mutations and those with insufficient evidence regarding breast cancer risk is valuable to enable a more comprehensive view of genetic factors influencing disease development and improve screening protocols, tailor diagnostic strategies, and individualize treatment plans. This approach also enhances our understanding of BC risk in various populations, potentially leading to new insights into genetic contributions to cancer and the refinement of risk models for patient care.

The Role of Medical Therapies in the Management of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: A Narrative Review

Cervical cancer and its precursors (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)) represent a current major public health concern. Currently, the treatment of choice for patients with HSILs (high-grade intraepithelial lesions) is surgical treatment—LEEP or cold-knife conization—except for in pregnant women, where it may have significant future consequences. In this paper, we aim to review the current evidence regarding the efficacy of non-surgical approaches for CINs. Therefore, we searched Google Scholar and PubMed for papers on CIN treatments; 91 studies published in English were included in the analysis. The results of the reviewed studies were variable depending on the agent and methodology used. Overall, the remission rates of CIN II ranged from 43 to 93%. However, for some agents, the results were contradictory. Once topical agents have been proven to be effective, they could be used as an alternative to surgical methods in treating HPV-associated CIN, with fewer adverse effects. The use of local agents could allow for more personalized treatments for patients with CINs. Future directions were also sought.