Your family tested negative for BRCA. But the cancers kept coming — because the standard panel didn't include the gene responsible.
Whole genome sequencing identifies pathogenic variants in all cancer susceptibility genes simultaneously — not just the most famous ones. 76% of hereditary cancer mutations are in genes beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Hereditary Cancer (Multi-Gene Panel)
Hereditary cancer predisposition extends beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2. PALB2 (Partner and Localizer of BRCA2) physically bridges BRCA1 and BRCA2 at DNA damage sites; pathogenic variants disrupt the entire repair complex, conferring 33–58% lifetime breast cancer risk — higher than many individual BRCA1/2 variants. ATM and CHEK2 are moderate-penetrance genes involved in DNA damage response: ATM encodes a kinase that senses double-strand breaks and activates downstream repair proteins; CHEK2 phosphorylates p53 and BRCA1 to halt cell division for repair. Pathogenic variants in these genes collectively increase cancer risk through impaired genome surveillance.
Among women with breast cancer undergoing multigene testing, approximately 1% carry ATM variants and 1.7% carry CHEK2 pathogenic variants — collectively, these moderate-risk genes are more common in the general population than BRCA variants. PALB2 pathogenic variants occur in ~0.5% of the population. Importantly, 76% of CHEK2/ATM/PALB2 carriers would not have qualified for enhanced screening based on BRCA-only testing criteria. The full hereditary cancer landscape is genetically diverse and ancestry-dependent.
Identifying variants in these moderate and high-penetrance genes has distinct clinical implications. PALB2 findings enable MRI surveillance from age 30 and potential PARP inhibitor eligibility if cancer develops. ATM findings inform pancreatic cancer surveillance and radiation-sensitive treatment planning. CHEK2 findings qualify carriers for enhanced breast MRI from age 40 and clarify previously uninformative 'BRCA-negative' hereditary patterns in 5% of such families. Each gene finding represents a distinct pathway to personalized cancer prevention.
The five genes in this panel function at different positions in the DNA damage response pathway, each conferring distinct cancer spectrum, age of onset, and lifetime risk — requiring gene-specific clinical management strategies.
BRCA-only testing catches one gene. Standard hereditary cancer panels are designed differently and often miss the genes causing cancer in families with strong histories.
The genes that cause hereditary cancer vary by family
A landmark analysis found that standard testing guidelines missed more than half of patients with inherited cancer mutations. Among families with strong breast cancer histories who tested BRCA-negative, 5% carry CHEK2 variants, 1–2% carry PALB2 or ATM variants. Many commercially available hereditary cancer panels were designed for BRCA1/2 and Lynch Syndrome — they may not include PALB2, ATM, and CHEK2 at all. Whole genome sequencing reads every cancer susceptibility gene simultaneously, eliminating the 'which panel' question.
A finding explains hereditary cancer and opens treatment options
PALB2 findings qualify carriers for MRI surveillance starting at age 30 and eligibility for PARP inhibitor therapy (olaparib) if breast cancer develops. ATM carriers benefit from enhanced surveillance and radiation-sensitive treatment planning — particularly important for cancer therapy decisions. CHEK2 findings enable enhanced breast MRI starting at age 40 and clarify genetic predisposition in families previously labeled 'uninformative.' Each discovery transforms a family's cancer risk from unexplained to actionable.
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.
Accredited by & published in
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 Hereditary Cancer (Multi-Gene Panel) 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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We’ll be in touch within 2 business days. To follow up directly: hello@dantelabs.com
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
