Introduction: Perceived breast cancer risk predicts screening behaviors. However, perceived risk is often inaccurate, notably in Black women, who often underestimate their risk despite having higher disease-specific mortality rates. We examined predictors of perceived breast cancer risk, and its impact on surveillance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe aimed to determine whether monoallelic MUTYH pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants (PVs) are associated with colorectal, breast, and endometrial cancer. Cases were individuals with colorectal, female breast, or endometrial cancer who reported European ancestry alone and underwent a multi-gene hereditary cancer panel at a large reference laboratory. Controls were individuals of European (non-Finnish) descent from GnomAD with cancer cohorts removed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRisk assessment in cancer genetic counseling is essential in identifying individuals at high risk for developing breast cancer to recommend appropriate screening and management options. Historically, many breast cancer risk prediction models were developed to calculate an individual's risk to develop breast cancer or to carry a pathogenic variant in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. However, how or when genetic counselors use these models in clinical settings is currently unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly identification of those with BRCA-related Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC) and Lynch syndrome has the potential for early cancer detection and/or prevention; as such, these conditions are considered Tier 1 genetic conditions by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn December 2014, the FDA approved olaparib, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) for ovarian cancer patients who have failed three or more lines of chemotherapy and have a germline BRCA1/2 mutation identified through a companion diagnostic test (BRACAnalysis CDx™ (CDx™)) offered exclusively by Myriad Genetic Laboratories. This study explored the impact of PARPi/CDx™ on genetic counselors' (GCs) counseling and testing practices. One hundred twenty three GCs responded to an online survey regarding pre- and post-FDA approval referral patterns, testing strategies/influences, and anecdotal experiences with insurance coverage of PARPi for BRCA1/2 positive patients through a non-CDx™ platform.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe impacts of the Association for Molecular Pathology vs. Myriad Supreme Court decision regarding patenting DNA segments and multi-gene testing on cancer genetic counseling practice have not been well described. We aimed to assess genetic counselors' perceptions of how their genetic testing-related practices for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer (HBOC) changed after these events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer susceptibility is a rapidly evolving field and partly a result of next-generation sequencing (NGS) allowing analysis of multiple cancer susceptibility genes simultaneously. This qualitative study explored laboratory perspectives on hereditary cancer panels. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of clinical laboratories offering hereditary cancer panels via NGS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPersonal and family health histories remain important independent risk factors for cancer; however they are currently not being well collected or used effectively. Health Heritage was designed to address this need. The purpose of this study was to validate the ability of Health Heritage to identify patients appropriate for further genetic evaluation and to accurately stratify cancer risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Germ-line testing for panels of cancer genes using next-generation sequencing is becoming more common in clinical care. We report our experience as a clinical laboratory testing both well-established, high-risk cancer genes (e.g.
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