Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating an oligonucleotide with which an exon may be skipped in a pre-mRNA and thus excluded from a produced mRNA thereof. Further provided are methods for altering the secondary structure of an mRNA to interfere with splicing processes and uses of the oligonucleotides and methods in the treatment of disease. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods and means for inducing skipping of several exons in a pre-mRNA.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating an oligonucleotide with which an exon may be skipped in a pre-mRNA and thus excluded from a produced mRNA thereof. Further provided are methods for altering the secondary structure of an mRNA to interfere with splicing processes and uses of the oligonucleotides and methods in the treatment of disease. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods and means for inducing skipping of several exons in a pre-mRNA.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of human genetics, and more specifically to the detection of a specific type of germline mutations in the BRCA1 gene, which will predispose to breast and ovarian cancer. In addition, the invention relates to the molecular genetic mechanism that may have mediated the genesis of these mutations, in particular the role of Alu repetitive DNA elements present in the intronic regions of BRCA1. The invention further relates to somatic mutations of this type in the BRCA1 gene in human breast and ovarian cancer, and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human breast and ovarian cancer. The invention more particularly relates to the screening of this type of BRCA1 mutations in human genomic DNA, which are useful for the diagnosis of inherited predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.