Patient Satisfaction with Private Genetic Counselling for Familial Cancer in Western Australia: A Prospective Audit.

BACKGROUND: The rapid increase in demand for cancer genetic testing in Australia led to the establishment of private Familial Cancer Clinics (FCCs) as alternatives to public sector FCCs. Australian studies conducted in the public sector have shown high patient satisfaction with genetic counselling. No study has investigated patient satisfaction with genetic counselling in the private sector in Australia. Our aim was to assess patient satisfaction with genetic counselling for familial cancer within the private healthcare sector of Western Australia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaires were given to all eligible patients after their first genetic counselling appointment, consisting of the 12-item Satisfaction with Genetic Counselling Scale and an added question regarding the perceived value for the financial cost. Outcomes assessed included instrumental satisfaction, affective satisfaction, procedural satisfaction and perceived value for financial cost. Participants scored the representative questions from one to four (unsatisfied - highly satisfied). RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty patients were given the questionnaire, 75 questionnaires were returned (response rate 34%),  and 73 were appropriately completed and analysed. Overall, seventy (96%) participants were highly satisfied with the genetic counsellor's explanation; seventy-four (98%) were highly satisfied/satisfied with the reassurance provided. Sixty-eight participants (93%) were highly satisfied/satisfied with the help received. Seventy-two (99%) participants had their expectations met and sixty-nine (95%) participants were highly satisfied with the service. Sixty-eight (93%) participants were highly satisfied/satisfied with the cost of private genetic counselling. Sixty-one (83.6%) proceeded to genetic testing. CONCLUSIONS: Private genetic counselling was considered highly satisfactory, and the cost considered acceptable by most participants.

Paediatric polyposis syndromes: burden of disease and current concepts.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Polyposis syndromes are rare but significant entities that often present during childhood and adolescence. Polyposis syndromes should remain high on the differential diagnoses for any child presenting with rectal bleeding, protein-losing enteropathy or intussusception in the setting of multiple polyps in the gastrointestinal tract. There are three primary paediatric polyposis syndromes: Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS), Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). This review will cover recent guidelines for these conditions and advances in genetic testing. RECENT FINDINGS: The first set of paediatric guidelines were released in 2019 by the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) for FAP, JPS and PJS. Even with advances in genetic testing, a significant proportion of patients with polyposis syndromes have no identifiable genetic mutations. Recent research has shown that polyps behave differently in patients with and without disease-causing variants, emphasizing the role of genetic testing in the diagnosis and management of polyposis syndromes. SUMMARY: Polyposis syndromes in the paediatric population are growing due to increased recognition and advances in genetic testing. A timely diagnosis and surveillance of a paediatric polyposis syndrome are pivotal for the management of disease burden and early identification of cancers within the gastrointestinal tract and beyond. Paediatricians, paediatric gastroenterologists, paediatric oncologists and paediatric surgeons should be familiar with the presentation and comorbidities of polyposis syndromes in children and adolescents. Further research into genotype-phenotype correlations is needed to tailor the care for paediatric patients with polyposis syndromes.

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, and Pancreatic, Version 1.2020.

The NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, and Pancreatic provide recommendations for genetic testing and counseling for hereditary cancer syndromes, and risk management recommendations for patients who are diagnosed with syndromes associated with an increased risk of these cancers. The NCCN panel meets at least annually to review comments, examine relevant new data, and reevaluate and update recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the panel's discussion and most recent recommendations regarding criteria for high-penetrance genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer beyond BRCA1/2, pancreas screening and genes associated with pancreatic cancer, genetic testing for the purpose of systemic therapy decision-making, and testing for people with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

Evolving Significance of Tumor-Normal Sequencing in Cancer Care.

Molecular tests assist at various stages of cancer patient management, including providing diagnosis, predicting prognosis, identifying therapeutic targets, and determining hereditary cancer risk. The current testing paradigm involves germline testing in a subset of patients determined to be at high risk for having a hereditary cancer syndrome, and tumor-only sequencing for treatment decisions in advanced cancer patients. A major limitation of tumor-only sequencing is its inability to distinguish germline versus somatic mutations. Tumor-normal sequencing has emerged as a comprehensive analysis for both hereditary cancer predisposition and somatic profiling. Here, we review recent studies involving tumor-normal sequencing, discuss its benefits in clinical care, challenges for its implementation, and novel insights it has provided regarding tumor biology and germline contribution to cancer.

Hereditary Cancer Syndromes and Risk Assessment: ACOG COMMITTEE OPINION SUMMARY, Number 793.

A hereditary cancer syndrome is a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer, often with onset at an early age, caused by inherited pathogenic variants in one or more genes. Most hereditary cancer syndromes exhibit autosomal dominant inheritance. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes related to women's cancer include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. A hereditary cancer risk assessment is the key to identifying patients and families who may be at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. Assessments should be performed by obstetrician-gynecologists or other obstetric-gynecologic care providers and should be updated regularly. An assessment includes information on personal and family history, including pathology, imaging reports, and evaluation of other medical risk factors for cancer. If a hereditary cancer risk assessment suggests an increased risk of a hereditary cancer syndrome, referral to a specialist in cancer genetics or a health care provider with expertise in genetics is recommended for expanded gathering of family history information, risk assessment, education, and counseling, which may lead to genetic testing and tailored cancer screening or risk reduction measures, or both. Currently, genetic testing is guided by personal history, family history, pedigree analysis and, in some cases, risk models that may include pathology reports and confirmation of cancer diagnoses with medical records, death certificates, or both. Counseling before and after genetic testing is an important part of the process to discuss rationale for any genetic testing, disclose results, define other cancer risks, identify educational needs, and secure referrals if necessary for ongoing management. This revision includes updates related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, cascade testing, and referrals to genetics specialists.

Hereditary Cancer Syndromes and Risk Assessment: ACOG COMMITTEE OPINION, Number 793.

A hereditary cancer syndrome is a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer, often with onset at an early age, caused by inherited pathogenic variants in one or more genes. Most hereditary cancer syndromes exhibit autosomal dominant inheritance. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes related to women's cancer include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. A hereditary cancer risk assessment is the key to identifying patients and families who may be at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. Assessments should be performed by obstetrician-gynecologists or other obstetric-gynecologic care providers and should be updated regularly. An assessment includes information on personal and family history, including pathology, imaging reports, and evaluation of other medical risk factors for cancer. If a hereditary cancer risk assessment suggests an increased risk of a hereditary cancer syndrome, referral to a specialist in cancer genetics or a health care provider with expertise in genetics is recommended for expanded gathering of family history information, risk assessment, education, and counseling, which may lead to genetic testing and tailored cancer screening or risk reduction measures, or both. Currently, genetic testing is guided by personal history, family history, pedigree analysis and, in some cases, risk models that may include pathology reports and confirmation of cancer diagnoses with medical records, death certificates, or both. Counseling before and after genetic testing is an important part of the process to discuss rationale for any genetic testing, disclose results, define other cancer risks, identify educational needs, and secure referrals if necessary for ongoing management. This revision includes updates related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, cascade testing, and referrals to genetics specialists.

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, Version 2.2019.

Identifying individuals with hereditary syndromes allows for improved cancer surveillance, risk reduction, and optimized management. Establishing criteria for assessment allows for the identification of individuals who are carriers of pathogenic genetic variants. The NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal provide recommendations for the assessment and management of patients with high-risk colorectal cancer syndromes. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on criteria for the evaluation of Lynch syndrome and considerations for use of multigene testing in the assessment of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes.

Proposed outcomes measures for state public health genomic programs.

PURPOSE: To assess the implementation of evidence-based genomic medicine and its population-level impact on health outcomes and to promote public health genetics interventions, in 2015 the Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine formed an action collaborative, the Genomics and Public Health Action Collaborative (GPHAC). This group engaged key stakeholders from public/population health agencies, along with experts in the fields of health disparities, health literacy, implementation science, medical genetics, and patient advocacy. METHODS: In this paper, we present the efforts to identify performance objectives and outcome metrics. Specific attention is placed on measures related to hereditary breast ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome and Lynch syndrome (LS), two conditions with existing evidence-based genomic applications that can have immediate impact on morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Our assessment revealed few existing outcome measures. Therefore, using an implementation research framework, 38 outcome measures were crafted. CONCLUSION: Evidence-based public health requires outcome metrics, yet few exist for genomics. Therefore, we have proposed performance objectives that states might use and provided examples of a few state-level activities already under way, which are designed to collect outcome measures for HBOC and LS.

Breast Cancer: Genetics and Risk Assessment.

As health care providers, we play a crucial role in the assessment of a patient's risk for hereditary breast cancer syndromes. The panorama of genetic assessment and testing has evolved dramatically since the identification of the BRCA genes. Next-generation sequencing technology has facilitated the development of multigene panels, but 1 consequence has been an increased identification of pathogenic variants at odds with a family history as well as variants of uncertain significance for which treatment guidelines are not defined. Progress in this field requires close collaboration between patients and clinicians with a thorough understanding in cancer genetics.

Committee opinion no. 634: Hereditary cancer syndromes and risk assessment.

A hereditary cancer syndrome is a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer, often with onset at an early age, caused by inherited mutations in one or more genes. Cases of cancer commonly encountered by obstetrician-gynecologists or other obstetric-gynecologic providers--such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer--are features of specific hereditary cancer syndromes. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes related to gynecologic cancer include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. A hereditary cancer risk assessment is the key to identifying patients and families who may be at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. Screening should include, at minimum, a personal cancer history and a first- and second-degree relative cancer history that includes a description of the type of primary cancer, the age of onset, and the lineage (paternal versus maternal) of the family member. In addition, a patient's ethnic background can influence her genetic risk. If a hereditary cancer risk assessment suggests an increased risk of a hereditary cancer syndrome, referral to a specialist in cancer genetics or a health care provider with expertise in genetics is recommended for expanded gathering of family history information, risk assessment, education, and counseling, which may lead to genetic testing.

Identifying hereditary cancer: genetic counseling and cancer risk assessment.

The goal of cancer genetic counseling, risk assessment, and testing is to identify individuals and families at risk for hereditary cancer, such that targeted management strategies can be used to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. Involvement of a qualified cancer genetic service provider helps to ensure that at-risk individuals identified and offered appropriate education, risk assessment, genetic testing, and follow-up risk management strategies. There are multiple screening and hereditary risk models available to help the clinician identify who needs to be referred to cancer genetic counseling and to facilitate the cancer risk assessment process. Genetic testing should only be pursued with fully informed consent in the context of pretest counseling to ensure that the individual understands the benefits, risks, and limitations of genetic testing, possible results, and their implications. Incorporating psychosocial assessment throughout the counseling session may assist the individual in their understanding of genetic testing in the context of their support resources and coping mechanisms and may help with decision making. There is a growing public awareness of and interest in cancer genetic testing, as well as increasing complexity of available testing options and results. It is therefore essential that cancer genetic professionals, primary care providers, and oncology practitioners work together to ensure that genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes is used in the most appropriate and effective way.

The Affordable Care Act and genetic testing for inheritable cancer syndromes: impact on high-risk underserved minorities.

Genetic testing for inheritable cancer syndromes is becoming a critical part of preventive health services. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Essential Health Benefits package addresses breast cancer susceptibility-gene testing for women who are unaffected by cancer. The absence of provisions for 1) men, 2) cancer patients, 3) other inheritable cancer syndromes, and 4) risk-reducing interventions are limitations of PPACA. We discuss provisions and limitations of PPACA pertaining to genetic testing and effects on high-risk populations, in particular minorities. The PPACA is the beginning of an ongoing process of incorporating genetic testing in the armamentarium of cancer prevention. Future efforts should focus on ensuring equitable access to genetic testing as a preventive service under PPACA to high-risk populations other than women. Consideration should also be given to provisions for risk-reducing interventions, especially in underserved minority populations, who are known to underutilize genetic testing and may have limited financial resources for medical intervention.

Attitudes and knowledge of medical practitioners to hereditary cancer clinics and cancer genetic testing.

Genetic testing for susceptibility for common cancers is widely available. Thus, doctors have a role in identifying and referring patients who would benefit from a consultation with a specialist in genetics. This study aims to assess doctors' referral rates, knowledge and attitudes towards cancer genetic testing, broken down by specialty (gastrointestinal, breast/ovarian, other specialties and General Practitioners-GPs). A 4-page questionnaire was mailed out to the GPs of all patients seen in 2012 in the Hereditary Cancer Clinic of St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney (n = 128) and all the specialists in St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney that might refer to the HCC (n = 33). 50 questionnaires were returned (31 %). Most doctors had referred a patient for cancer genetic testing (90 %). The average proportion of patients referred was 1 in 68.5 patients with breast/ovarian specialists referring the most, followed by gastrointestinal specialists and GPs. There was suboptimal knowledge of cancer genetic testing amongst doctors. Breast/ovarian specialists were most knowledgeable, followed by gastrointestinal specialists, other specialists and GPs. There were indications of inappropriate referral amongst doctors. Most (77.6 %) doctors were willing to receive further information on cancer genetics. Nearly all (94 %) doctors believe that it is their duty to inform an individual at high risk for hereditary cancer that cancer genetic counselling and testing is available. The majority of doctors have positive attitudes towards cancer genetic testing. Defective knowledge scores, however, indicate that doctors need further training or tools to enable them to refer patients appropriately for cancer genetic testing.

Comparison of attitudes regarding preimplantation genetic diagnosis among patients with hereditary cancer syndromes.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) allows couples to avoid having a child with an inherited condition, potentially reducing cancer burden in families with a hereditary cancer predisposition. This study investigated and compared awareness and acceptance of PGD among patients with different hereditary cancer syndromes. Questionnaires were mailed to 984 adults with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 or 2. Associations between clinical, demographic, and psychosocial factors and awareness and acceptance of PGD were examined. Of 370 respondents (38 % return rate), 28 % felt their syndrome impacted family planning, 24 % were aware of PGD, 72 % felt that PGD should be offered, 43 % would consider using PGD, and 29 % were uncertain. Family experience and syndrome-specific characteristics, such as disease severity, quality of life and availability of medical interventions as well as gender, family planning stage, and religiosity impact perceptions of the acceptability of PGD, though a high level of uncertainty exists. Hereditary cancer patients lack awareness of PGD despite feeling that PGD should be offered, highlighting the need for education on this topic. While we found attitudes about the acceptability of PGD to be generally similar to those reported in the literature and of genetics and ethics experts, we observed similarities and differences between syndromes that provide insight into why some hereditary cancer patients may find PGD more acceptable than others.

[Genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer: importance of test results]. / Prédisposition génétique aux cancers du sein et de l'ovaire: importance des résultats des tests.

Oncogenetic consultations and predictive BRCA1/2 testing are intertwined processes and the specific impact of these genetic tests if performed alone through direct-to-consumer offers remains unknown. Noteworthy, the expectations of patients vary with their own status, whether they are affected or not by breast cancer at the time genetic testing is performed. The prescription of genetic tests for BCRA mutations has doubled in France between 2003 and 2009. There is a consensus on the fact that genetic results disclosure led to a significant increase in the knowledge and understanding that the patients have of the genetic risk and also changed the medical follow-up of these patients. Evaluating the psychological burden of tests disclosure did not reveal any major distress in patients who are followed by high-quality multidisciplinary teams. Longitudinal cohorts studies have now evaluated the perception and behaviour of these patients, and observed sociodemographic as well as geographic and psychosocial differences both in the acceptation of prophylactic strategies such as surgery, and time to surgery.

BRCA mutations in the management of breast cancer: the state of the art.

Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is gaining acceptance in clinical oncology worldwide and may help target unaffected high-risk women for prevention and for close surveillance. Annual screening with MRI seems to be an effective surveillance strategy, but the long term follow-up of women with small MRI-detected breast cancers is necessary to establish its ultimate value. Women with cancer and a BRCA mutation may benefit from tailored treatments, such as cisplatin or olaparib. The treatment goals for a woman with a BRCA-associated breast cancer should be to prevent recurrence of the initial cancer and to prevent second primary breast and ovarian cancers. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are presented throughout the world and it is important that the benefits of genetic testing and of targeted therapies be extended to women who live outside of North America and Western Europe.