Cancer test lab adds new exams

FORT MYERS — Cancer-testing lab NeoGenomics has launched a new line of tests, called germline tests, that will concentrate on people who inherited a predisposition to develop certain cancers.

The new tests will screen people for BRCA1 and BRCA2, two well-known gene mutations that have been found to result in a higher incidence of several types of cancer, according to a statement. These new tests are being integrated into the Fort Myers-based company's cancer profile tests for breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Knowing if a patient has a mutation on their BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can help a doctor determine the best treatments to use, the firm says.

The company has also launched tests to search for gene mutations responsible for Lynch Syndrome, an inherited disorder that increases the risks of contracting colorectal cancer and other cancers.

Until now, most of NeoGenomics' testing has focused on somatic gene mutations. Those are altered genes that aren't acquired from a parent and more likely occurred during a person's life.

NeoGenomics is publicly traded on the Nasdaq exchange, under the symbol NEO.