The announcement by actress Angelina Jolie that she had a double mastectomy has put a spotlight on the genetics behind breast cancer, and could even have implications for a pending Supreme Court case about patenting genes. Michigan State University experts are available to sort out the science behind Jolie’s decision, what it has to do with coming high court ruling and what women need to know about their genes and breast cancer.
Among the faculty members who can put the topic in context:
Harvey Bumpers is director for breast surgery at MSU and a professor in the College of Human Medicine’s Department of Surgery. His expertise includes breast surgery, breast cancer prevention and cancer research more broadly. He can be reached at (517) 267-2460 or harvey.bumpers@hc.msu.edu.
Karen Ching, an assistant professor also in the Department of Surgery, is a breast surgeon and Medical Director for the Breast Clinic at Sparrow Hospital. She can discuss preventive breast surgeries and the decisions behind them. Contact Ching at (517) 267-2460 or karen.ching@hc.msu.edu.
Mary Smania is a nurse practitioner in the Department of Surgery and assistant professor in the College of Nursing. Her work involves performing genetic risk assessments and counseling women about breast cancer prevention based on their test results. She can be reached at (517) 267-2460 or mary.smania@hc.msu.edu.
Jennifer Carter-Johnson, an assistant professor in the College of Law with a doctorate in microbiology, is an expert on the intersection of biological research and the law. She can discuss the pending Supreme Court case involving the patenting of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Jolie’s elevated breast cancer risk was due to a mutated BRCA1 gene. Contact Carter-Johnson at (517) 432-6989 or jcj@law.msu.edu.