Vivienne K Beard1, Angela C Bedard1, Jennifer Nuk1, Petra W C Lee1, Quan Hong1, James E J Bedard1, Sophie Sun1, Kasmintan A Schrader2. 1. Department of Biology (Beard, Lee, J.E.J. Bedard), University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; Hereditary Cancer Program (A.C. Bedard, Nuk, Hong, Sun, Schrader), BC Cancer; Division of Medical Oncology (Sun), University of British Columbia; Department of Molecular Oncology (Schrader), BC Cancer; Department of Medical Genetics (Schrader), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. 2. Department of Biology (Beard, Lee, J.E.J. Bedard), University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; Hereditary Cancer Program (A.C. Bedard, Nuk, Hong, Sun, Schrader), BC Cancer; Division of Medical Oncology (Sun), University of British Columbia; Department of Molecular Oncology (Schrader), BC Cancer; Department of Medical Genetics (Schrader), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC ischrader@bccancer.bc.ca angela.bedard@bccancer.bc.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Genetic testing in families with hereditary cancer enables identification of people most likely to benefit from intensive screening and preventive measures; however, the uptake of testing in relatives (known as cascade carrier testing) for hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes has been shown to be low. Our objective was to report rates of familial testing for hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes in a publicly funded hereditary cancer clinic in Canada. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective database review was used to determine testing uptake between 1997 and 2016 for families served by the provincial Hereditary Cancer Program for British Columbia and Yukon. Analyses were conducted for genes associated with syndromes with an increased risk for colorectal cancer, including Lynch syndrome (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 and EPCAM) and familial adenomatous polyposis (APC), and for additional moderate- to high-penetrance genes (STK11, TP53, SMAD4, MUTYH, PTEN and CHEK2). Descriptive statistics were used and all analyses were 2-tailed. RESULTS: The study cohort included 245 index patients, with carrier testing performed in 382 relatives. The mean age at family member testing was 41.2 years, and most (61.0%) of the family members who underwent testing were women. The median time between disclosure of index cases and their family member's results was 8.3 months. Among eligible first-degree relatives, 32.6% (268/821) underwent testing in BC. Of 67 cancer diagnoses in family members, most (62.7%) occurred before genetic testing. INTERPRETATION: A substantial proportion of people at risk for hereditary colorectal cancer do not undergo genetic testing. This gap highlights the need to explore barriers to testing and to consider interventions to promote uptake; more aggressive efforts by hereditary cancer programs are needed to reach this highest risk population. Copyright 2020, Joule Inc. or its licensors.
BACKGROUND: Genetic testing in families with hereditary cancer enables identification of people most likely to benefit from intensive screening and preventive measures; however, the uptake of testing in relatives (known as cascade carrier testing) for hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes has been shown to be low. Our objective was to report rates of familial testing for hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes in a publicly funded hereditary cancer clinic in Canada. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective database review was used to determine testing uptake between 1997 and 2016 for families served by the provincial Hereditary Cancer Program for British Columbia and Yukon. Analyses were conducted for genes associated with syndromes with an increased risk for colorectal cancer, including Lynch syndrome (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 and EPCAM) and familial adenomatous polyposis (APC), and for additional moderate- to high-penetrance genes (STK11, TP53, SMAD4, MUTYH, PTEN and CHEK2). Descriptive statistics were used and all analyses were 2-tailed. RESULTS: The study cohort included 245 index patients, with carrier testing performed in 382 relatives. The mean age at family member testing was 41.2 years, and most (61.0%) of the family members who underwent testing were women. The median time between disclosure of index cases and their family member's results was 8.3 months. Among eligible first-degree relatives, 32.6% (268/821) underwent testing in BC. Of 67 cancer diagnoses in family members, most (62.7%) occurred before genetic testing. INTERPRETATION: A substantial proportion of people at risk for hereditary colorectal cancer do not undergo genetic testing. This gap highlights the need to explore barriers to testing and to consider interventions to promote uptake; more aggressive efforts by hereditary cancer programs are needed to reach this highest risk population. Copyright 2020, Joule Inc. or its licensors.
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