KIF6 genotyping provides significant information beyond traditional risk factors to help with the identification of patients at risk for CHD events and the personalization of their treatment. Kinesin-like protein 6 (KIF6) is a protein involved in intracellular transport. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of KIF6 (719 Arg) has been shown to predict increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and event reduction during statin therapy*. The genotypes of KIF6 carriers include either one or two 719Arg alleles (e.g., Arg/Trp or Arg/Arg), and the KIF6 noncarrier genotype lacks the 719Arg allele (e.g., Trp/Trp).

Risk Associated with the KIF6 Genotype:

• About 60% of the studied populations** were carriers of the KIF6 genetic variant (719Arg) that was found to substantially increase their risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) events.
• Published research studies (CARE and WOSCOPS, WHS, ARIC and CHS) including 49,000 individuals showed that carriers of the KIF6 (719Arg) variant had up to a 55% increased risk for CHD events.

KIF6 carriers were found to have greater risk of CHD events:

Risk associated with KIF6 was independent of traditional risk factors:

• Intensive statin therapy was 6.8 fold more effective in KIF6 carriers than in noncarriers in terms of lowering CHD events in the PROVE-IT trial.
• KIF6 carriers on pravastatin therapy had 5.6 and 1.9 fold greater event reduction in the WOSCOPS and CARE trials, respectively.

KIF6 carriers benefit from statin therapy:

• KIF6 can help with medication compliance as patients may feel more motivated to follow their clinician's treatment plan because their genotype predicts that they may benefit.

For more information about KIF6, download the KIF6 Overview or call Customer Support at
1-800-432-7889, option 3. Prominent KIF6 articles can be found on the Journal of American College of Cardiology website.

Due to the unique nature of genetic testing, physicians may suggest patients consider genetic counseling. Informed consent is recommended and required for patients according to state law. Consent forms are available from Berkeley HeartLab, Inc upon request.

*To date, the benefit of statin therapy for KIF6 carriers has only been studied with atorvastatin and pravastatin therapy1,5.

**Studied populations predominantly consisted of Caucasians 45 years of age and older. Studies in other ethnic groups are ongoing.

The KIF6 genotyping test was developed and its performance characteristics were determined by Berkeley HeartLab, Inc., a CLIA-certified laboratory. It has not been reviewed or approved by the FDA.

References:

¹Iakoubova, O, et al. Association of the Trp719Arg Polymorphism in KIF6 with MI and CHD in 2 Prospective Trials. The CARE and WOSCOPS Trials. JACC. 2008; 51(4): 435-443.

²Shiffman, D, et. al. Association of Gene Variants in Incident MI in the Cardiovascular Health Study. ATVB. 2008;28:173.

³Bare, L, et. al. Five Common Gene Variants Identify Elevated Genetic Risk for CHD. Genetics in Medicine. 2007: 9(10); 682-689.

⁴Shiffman, D, et. al. A KIF6 Variant Is Associated With CHD in Women’s Health Study. JACC. 2008; 51(4): 444-448.

⁵Iakoubova, O, et al. Polymorphism in KIF6 Gene and Benefit from Statins after ACS. Results from the PROVE IT-TIMI22 Study. JACC. 2008; 51(4): 449-455.