HFEA approves embryo screening for cancer 2/11/04. By the Public Health Genetics Unit The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has approved the screening of embryos, using pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, for familial adenomatous polyposis, an inherited bowel cancer.

If a parent is a carrier of familial adenomatous polyposis, there is normally a 50 per cent chance that a child will inherit the condition. Familial adenomatous polyposis sufferers develop small non-cancerous growths (polyps) in their bowel, which become cancerous as they grow older.

The University College London has now been licensed by the HFEA to screen for familial adenomatous polyposis. In pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, during the in vitro fertilisation process, embryos are screened to see if they carry the faulty gene. Healthy embryos without the faulty gene (up to 2 in women under 40) are implanted. Some scientists hope that familial adenomatous polyposis could be reduced or wiped out if the gene is not passed on to future generations.

However, this raises ethical questions. Familial adenomatous polyposis does not manifest itself until early adulthood. Opponents argue that medicines should be developed to treat the condition, rather than using controversial genetic techniques to try to 'solve' the problem. Also, some claim that this continues the UK 'down the slippery slope' towards designer babies. Where do we stop when it comes to choosing a child's attributes? For the happy families who have won the right to screen for familial adenomatous polyposis the answer is clear; they will be able to prevent a terrible disease from being spread to future generations. For others the answer may not be so clear. There have been calls for the HFEA to put these decisions to the public to ensure the issues are debated fully.

Article courtesy of the Public Health Genetics Unit .

Image credit: Yorgas Nikas