ATM Hereditary Cancer Risk — a DNA damage repair gene on the ACMG secondary findings list, conferring elevated breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer risk and directly influencing sensitivity to PARP inhibitors and platinum chemotherapy.
Whole genome sequencing reads all 66 ATM exons simultaneously — the only way to reliably detect the full spectrum of ATM variants, including the large deletions and deep intronic variants that standard cancer panels systematically undercount.
ATM Hereditary Cancer Risk
ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) encodes a serine-threonine protein kinase that is a master regulator of the DNA double-strand break response. Biallelic ATM pathogenic variants cause ataxia-telangiectasia (AT), a rare severe multisystem disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia, oculomotor apraxia, immunodeficiency, telangiectasias, and markedly elevated cancer risk — particularly lymphoid malignancies. Heterozygous ATM pathogenic variants, present in approximately 0.5-1% of the general population, are associated with a less severe but clinically significant cancer predisposition syndrome that has been precisely characterized only in recent years through large-scale population genomics studies.
ATM heterozygous carriers have an estimated 20-25% lifetime breast cancer risk (compared to approximately 12% population average), with NCCN guidelines recommending enhanced breast cancer surveillance (annual breast MRI from age 40) for affected individuals. ATM carriers also face elevated pancreatic cancer risk (approximately 5-7% lifetime, compared to ~1.5% population average), elevated prostate cancer risk in males (particularly high-grade disease), and potentially elevated colorectal and ovarian cancer risk. ATM is now included in the ACMG SF v3.2 secondary findings list, reflecting consensus that actionable clinical management changes are warranted for identified carriers.
ATM has direct implications beyond cancer risk stratification — it is a theranostic biomarker. Cancers arising in ATM-deficient patients may be particularly sensitive to agents that exploit DNA repair pathway deficiencies: PARP inhibitors, platinum chemotherapy, and ATM kinase inhibitors currently in clinical trial. Germline ATM status now informs cancer treatment decisions — olaparib is FDA-approved for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in patients with ATM pathogenic variants, and clinical trials are evaluating PARP inhibitor combinations for pancreatic cancer in ATM carriers. This dual role — hereditary cancer risk management and treatment selection — makes complete ATM genotyping increasingly urgent.
ATM is a 66-exon gene with over 3,000 documented variants. Many reported ATM variants are variants of uncertain significance — complete gene sequencing with functional context is needed to interpret them properly.
ATM has 66 exons and thousands of variants — limited panels frequently miss rare pathogenic alleles
The ATM gene is one of the largest cancer predisposition genes, spanning 150 kilobases with 66 coding exons. Over 3,000 ATM sequence variants have been documented, the majority of which are missense variants of uncertain significance. Truncating variants (nonsense, frameshift, essential splice site) are definitively classified as pathogenic when identified. Large ATM deletions — detectable only by copy number variant analysis — account for a meaningful fraction of ATM pathogenic variants in familial cancer cases and are not reliably detected by standard panel sequencing. Whole genome sequencing covers all 66 exons with simultaneous copy number variant analysis, resolving the full ATM variant spectrum.
Germline ATM status now determines PARP inhibitor eligibility in prostate cancer
The FDA approved olaparib (Lynparza) and rucaparib (Rubraca) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in patients with ATM pathogenic variants, alongside BRCA1/2 variants. This approval makes germline ATM testing directly treatment-enabling for prostate cancer patients — a patient who tests ATM-positive on a complete gene analysis may qualify for PARP inhibitor monotherapy rather than chemotherapy. Clinical trials are also evaluating PARP inhibitors specifically in germline ATM-positive pancreatic cancer (a setting with very few approved options). Complete ATM genotyping — not a partial panel that may miss rare truncating or structural variants — is required for accurate somatic vs. germline status determination and treatment eligibility assessment.
Your full DNA (not just a part of it)
Traditional genetic testing looks at narrow sets of genes, missing most parts of your genome. We sequence your full genome — every gene and every region between genes.
Comprehensive insights and specialized reports
Easy to read and with answers you and your doctor can act on. Not a file to interpret — 200+ clinical reports, organized by category.
Your test becomes more valuable every year
Your DNA does not change, but genome science is accelerating. Every month, new variant-disease associations are discovered. We validate these findings and update your reports automatically. Your test becomes more valuable every year.
The results doctors bring to their hardest cases.
Forty years of uncertainty. One test.
A patient had spent decades in the UK healthcare system without a diagnosis. Dante data, accepted by NHS clinical teams at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, identified Noonan Syndrome and a RUNX1 leukemia-associated variant that had gone undetected. After 40 years, they finally had an answer.
A complete read delivers a complete picture.
A patient came to Dante to investigate periodic paralysis. Reading the complete genome identified a concurrent hereditary cardiac finding — Brugada syndrome — that their doctor confirmed with an ECG. The result also explained a family member's unresolved cardiac history. One test. Every answer in it.
Sequenced in 2019. The data worked in 2021.
Jennifer sequenced her genome with Dante two years before her breast cancer diagnosis. When treatment began, Dante's pharmacogenomics data showed her prescribed chemotherapy would cause serious adverse effects. Her doctor selected an alternative — and she started effective treatment from day one.
Every genetic question deserves a complete answer.
Whether you are searching for answers today or protecting your health for tomorrow, a complete read of your entire genome is the only place to start.
It runs in your family. Now you can know if it runs in your genes.
Your genome contains inherited variants associated with medical conditions like cardiac, cancer, and neurological. We read all of them — with the clinical depth to give the result meaning.
Learn more →When traditional lab tests say you're fine. And you know you're not.
Standard diagnostic tests check for a pre-selected set of answers. We sequence your full DNA — including parts that no test was designed to check. If the answer is in your genome, we will help you find it.
Learn more →Your diagnosis may be right. Your treatment plan may be incomplete.
Your genes determine which treatments are most likely to work — and which are not. We give your doctor the tools and insights to inform your treatment plan.
Learn more →You want to know before something forces the question.
Some people don't wait for a diagnosis or a family history to act. Whole genome sequencing gives you the complete genetic picture now — so you and your doctor can make informed decisions before anything becomes urgent.
Learn more →You already took a DNA test. Here's what it couldn't tell you.
Most consumer DNA tests read less than 0.1% of your genome. We read all of it.
Learn more →Clinical-grade results. Chosen by individuals, trusted by doctors for their most complex cases.
Dante Genome Test helped specialists at a UK national acute hospital in the identification of Noonan Syndrome and a rare leukemia-associated genetic variant that had gone undetected. That result changed the medical care of the patient.
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Common questions about whole genome sequencing.
What is the difference between whole genome sequencing and a targeted genetic test?
Targeted genetic tests — including standard hereditary cancer panels — read a pre-defined list of known variants in a specific set of genes. They are designed to find what they already know to look for. Whole genome sequencing reads your entire genome: all 6 billion base pairs, every gene, every region between genes. A Mayo Clinic study published in JAMA Oncology found that standard testing guidelines missed more than half of patients with inherited cancer mutations. Genome Test does not have a fixed list.
What will I receive when my results are ready?
Your Dante Genome delivers 200+ physician-ready reports organized by clinical category — hereditary cancer, cardiac conditions, rare diseases, pharmacogenomics, carrier status, and more. Reports are delivered to your secure Genome Manager and are formatted for direct clinical use. Your genome data is permanently retained and re-analyzed automatically as science advances.
What happens if a clinically significant variant is found?
If a pathogenic or likely-pathogenic variant is identified, it will be clearly flagged in your physician-ready report with clinical context, published evidence, and recommended next steps. We recommend sharing any clinically significant finding with your physician or a genetic counselor, who can guide decisions about surveillance, risk reduction, or cascade testing for family members.
How is this different from a consumer DNA test like 23andMe or AncestryDNA?
Consumer DNA tests use genotyping chips that read less than 0.1% of your genome — a tiny pre-selected set of common variants. They are optimized for ancestry and population-level traits, not clinical genetic findings. The Dante Genome Test sequences 100% of your genome at 30X coverage, the same standard used in clinical diagnostic settings. The two tests are not comparable in scope, methodology, or clinical utility.
How long does it take to get results, and how are they delivered?
Your collection kit ships within 48 hours of ordering. Once your sample arrives at our CLIA-certified laboratory, sequencing and analysis takes 6–8 weeks. Results are delivered securely to your Genome Manager, where you can access your reports, share them with your physician, and receive automatic updates as new findings are validated against your genome.
We work with patient advocacy groups worldwide.
Dante Labs works with patient advocacy groups of any size — for ATM Hereditary Cancer Risk and other conditions, rare and common. We support groups in any country, including virtual patient advocacy groups.
We can provide customized reports, group discounts, and packages tailored for your members. Please reach out using the form and we'll be in touch within two business days.
- Custom genomic reports for your members
- Group discounts and tailored packages
- Any country — including virtual groups
- Rare and common conditions covered
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One test.
A lifetime of answers.
One kit, sent to your home. Your entire genome sequenced at the clinical standard used for diagnostic decisions. 200+ physician-ready reports delivered to your Genome Manager in 6–8 weeks — permanent and updated as science advances.
Ships within 48 hours · Results in 6–8 weeks
