Why carry out this study?

The cost-effectiveness of conventional population-wide breast cancer screening programmes (e.g. mammography) is controversial, while that of genetic testing to identify pathogenic variants may improve the cost-effectiveness. We aimed to present an evidence summary to inform policymakers in low- or middle-income countries such as China on the cost-effectiveness of different breast cancer screening strategies.

What was learned from the study?

Through a review of economic evaluations of breast cancer screening strategies in China, we found that precision medicine technologies may potentially improve the cost-effectiveness of screening breast cancer among Chinese women.

Future research may investigate screening strategies through precision medicine technologies in China, including genetic testing, genome sequencing, cascade testing, and the return of secondary genomic findings.