112 NHS England is developing a national database covering 120 genes known to increase the risk of cancer, in a move expected to give tens of thousands of people access to earlier screening, personalised treatments and preventative care. The NHS National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Register expands on the existing Lynch syndrome register, which has already identified thousands of people with that inherited condition and offered them routine preventative screening. The new register forms part of the NHS’s 10 year plan to strengthen cancer prevention and treatment. The database will allow the genetic profiles of cancer patients and their family members to be compared against known inherited risks. Clinicians will then be able to identify people at increased risk and automatically invite them for screening, routine tests and tailored advice on risk reducing measures. The aim is to detect cancers earlier and, in some cases, prevent them altogether. Earlier detection and personalised care Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said the register marks a significant shift in how inherited cancer risk is addressed. “We are entering a new era of cancer prevention with pioneering research and testing helping us to discover more about how genes influence our chances of developing cancer and this register could help ensure thousands more people can be offered screening, tests and the latest treatments,” he said. The database is also expected to speed up access to earlier and more frequent screening, as well as personalised treatments, including tests to determine whether specific genetic profiles make cancers more responsive to certain therapies. Government backing and national reform Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the register could help translate genetic knowledge into practical action. “One in every two people will get cancer in their lifetime but that does not mean the chances are random many people face a higher risk through the genes they inherit,” he said. “And while we cannot do anything about inherited genes we can do something about what we do with that information.” Mr Streeting added: “By launching this world leading genetic register for people with genetic conditions with an increased risk of cancer, we can provide personalised and preventative care sooner. This register won’t just supercharge innovation it will be life changing and life saving, allowing the NHS to develop individual care, fast track screening and tailored information to enable more cancers to be caught earlier.” He described the programme as part of wider efforts “to modernise our NHS so it is fit for the 21st century”. Calls for accessibility and joined up care Claire Rowney, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, welcomed the announcement and said the charity has long campaigned for a national system to support people at increased genetic risk. “We are delighted to see the UK Government commit to creating a comprehensive national database for people at an increased risk of cancer, to facilitate better access to earlier, more frequent screening and to risk reducing treatments,” she said. “This is something Breast Cancer Now has been calling for, and it has the potential to transform the lives of women who are at increased risk of breast cancer due to their family history or genetics, by making sure they are offered the right support and treatment to help manage their risk.” Rowney stressed that access across the health system would be essential. “The database must be accessible to all clinicians and be designed to make sure everyone at an increased risk of breast cancer receives joined up care, and the support they are eligible for,” she said. “We look forward to hearing more detail, and to working together with researchers and clinical teams to make faster progress and ensure everyone at increased risk of breast cancer has access to more effective information, diagnosis and treatment. And we stand ready to support the UK Government to deliver the forthcoming National Cancer Plan for England.” Building on existing genetic registers The new register follows the success of the Lynch syndrome register and aims to address inherited cancer risk more comprehensively. Charities including Breast Cancer Now have highlighted the importance of ensuring equitable access, particularly for people with genetic predispositions such as BRCA mutations linked to breast and other cancers. By embedding genetic risk information into routine NHS care, the register is expected to reduce late stage diagnoses and improve outcomes for people at higher inherited risk across England.