Turning the Page on Breast Cancer in Ohio: Lessons learned from implementing a multilevel intervention to reduce breast cancer mortality among Black women.

BACKGROUND: Turning the Page on Breast Cancer (TPBC) uses a multilevel approach to reduce breast cancer (BC) mortality among Black women. TPBC intervenes by (1) improving health care facilities' ability to conduct effective BC screening, follow-up, and treatment; (2) involving community-based organizations; and (3) providing education and personal risk information through a culturally relevant website. Ohio has among the worst BC mortality rates in the United States for Black women. TPBC is in its third year of providing targeted interventions in 12 Ohio counties with particularly high BC rates among Black women. METHODS: TPBC enrolls health care facilities, collects organizational and patient data, and conducts key informant interviews to inform the provision of appropriate evidence-based interventions. TPBC engages Black communities through community-based organizations and social media advertising. The TPBC website offers BC information, connects Black women to community BC resources, and provides access to a risk-assessment tool. RESULTS: TPBC has provided tailored information packets, evidence-based interventions, and systematic support for improving the tracking and follow-up of breast health care among patients in 10 clinical partnerships. The project has provided education at community events monthly since mid-2021. The TPBC website (http://endbreastcancerohio.org) is promoted through social media (primarily Facebook) and community events to reach Black women aged 25-70 years. To date, 4108 unique users have visited the website, of whom 15.9% completed the risk assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Novel strategies are needed to address persistent disparities in BC outcomes among Black women. TPBC demonstrates the potential effectiveness of multiple methods of community-based, clinic-based, and web-based engagement. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Turning the Page on Breast Cancer (TPBC) aims to reduce breast cancer mortality among Black women in Ohio by conducting multilevel, community-engaged interventions in 12 counties. Women are provided risk information and education at virtual and in-person community events and through a community-friendly website that was launched in November 2020. Almost 4000 women have visited the website, which offers community-targeted information, urges screening for individuals at elevated risk, and offers access to patient navigation services; 655 users have used a breast cancer risk-assessment tool on the site. Community-based organizations conduct educational efforts. TPBC partners with health care facilities, which are taught to improve their ability to conduct effective breast cancer screening, follow-up, and treatment. So far, TPBC has provided educational information, evidence-based intervention lists, tailored information packets, and ongoing quarterly support to partners in 10 counties. Evaluation will focus on aggregated data for screening and genetic testing referral at the clinic level.

Ovarian cancer pathology characteristics as predictors of variant pathogenicity in BRCA1 and BRCA2.

BACKGROUND: The distribution of ovarian tumour characteristics differs between germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variant carriers and non-carriers. In this study, we assessed the utility of ovarian tumour characteristics as predictors of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant pathogenicity, for application using the American College of Medical Genetics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) variant classification system. METHODS: Data for 10,373 ovarian cancer cases, including carriers and non-carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variants, were collected from unpublished international cohorts and consortia and published studies. Likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated for the association of ovarian cancer histology and other characteristics, with BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant pathogenicity. Estimates were aligned to ACMG/AMP code strengths (supporting, moderate, strong). RESULTS: No histological subtype provided informative ACMG/AMP evidence in favour of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant pathogenicity. Evidence against variant pathogenicity was estimated for the mucinous and clear cell histologies (supporting) and borderline cases (moderate). Refined associations are provided according to tumour grade, invasion and age at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: We provide detailed estimates for predicting BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant pathogenicity based on ovarian tumour characteristics. This evidence can be combined with other variant information under the ACMG/AMP classification system, to improve classification and carrier clinical management.

Molecular Characteristics of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer According to Detailed Anatomical Locations: Comparison With Later-Onset Cases.

INTRODUCTION: Early-onset colorectal cancer diagnosed before the age of 50 years has been increasing. Likely reflecting the pathogenic role of the intestinal microbiome, which gradually changes across the entire colorectal length, the prevalence of certain tumor molecular characteristics gradually changes along colorectal subsites. Understanding how colorectal tumor molecular features differ by age and tumor location is important in personalized patient management. METHODS: Using 14,004 cases with colorectal cancer including 3,089 early-onset cases, we examined microsatellite instability (MSI), CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), and KRAS and BRAF mutations in carcinomas of the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum and compared early-onset cases with later-onset cases. RESULTS: The proportions of MSI-high, CIMP-high, and BRAF -mutated early-onset tumors were lowest in the rectum (8.8%, 3.4%, and 3.5%, respectively) and highest in the ascending colon (46% MSI-high; 15% CIMP-high) or transverse colon (8.6% BRAF -mutated) (all Ptrend <0.001 across the rectum to ascending colon). Compared with later-onset tumors, early-onset tumors showed a higher prevalence of MSI-high status and a lower prevalence of CIMP-high status and BRAF mutations in most subsites. KRAS mutation prevalence was higher in the cecum compared with that in the other subsites in both early-onset and later-onset tumors ( P < 0.001). Notably, later-onset MSI-high tumors showed a continuous decrease in KRAS mutation prevalence from the rectum (36%) to ascending colon (9%; Ptrend <0.001), followed by an increase in the cecum (14%), while early-onset MSI-high cancers showed no such trend. DISCUSSION: Our findings support biogeographical and pathogenic heterogeneity of colorectal carcinomas in different colorectal subsites and age groups.

Diabetes mellitus in relation to colorectal tumor molecular subtypes: A pooled analysis of more than 9000 cases.

Diabetes is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer. However, colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease and it is not well understood whether diabetes is more strongly associated with some tumor molecular subtypes than others. A better understanding of the association between diabetes and colorectal cancer according to molecular subtypes could provide important insights into the biology of this association. We used data on lifestyle and clinical characteristics from the Colorectal Cancer Family Registry (CCFR) and the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium (GECCO), including 9756 colorectal cancer cases (with tumor marker data) and 9985 controls, to evaluate associations between reported diabetes and risk of colorectal cancer according to molecular subtypes. Tumor markers included BRAF and KRAS mutations, microsatellite instability and CpG island methylator phenotype. In the multinomial logistic regression model, comparing colorectal cancer cases to cancer-free controls, diabetes was positively associated with colorectal cancer regardless of subtype. The highest OR estimate was found for BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer, n = 1086 (ORfully adj : 1.67, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.36-2.05), with an attenuated association observed between diabetes and colorectal cancer without BRAF-mutations, n = 7959 (ORfully adj : 1.33, 95% CI: 1.19-1.48). In the case only analysis, BRAF-mutation was differentially associated with diabetes (Pdifference  = .03). For the other markers, associations with diabetes were similar across tumor subtypes. In conclusion, our study confirms the established association between diabetes and colorectal cancer risk, and suggests that it particularly increases the risk of BRAF-mutated tumors.

Risks of breast and ovarian cancer for women harboring pathogenic missense variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 compared with those harboring protein truncating variants.

PURPOSE: Germline genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants has been a part of clinical practice for >2 decades. However, no studies have compared the cancer risks associated with missense pathogenic variants (PVs) with those associated with protein truncating (PTC) variants. METHODS: We collected 582 informative pedigrees segregating 1 of 28 missense PVs in BRCA1 and 153 pedigrees segregating 1 of 12 missense PVs in BRCA2. We analyzed 324 pedigrees with PTC variants in BRCA1 and 214 pedigrees with PTC variants in BRCA2. Cancer risks were estimated using modified segregation analysis. RESULTS: Estimated breast cancer risks were markedly lower for women aged >50 years carrying BRCA1 missense PVs than for the women carrying BRCA1 PTC variants (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.9 [2.4-6.2] for PVs vs 12.8 [5.7-28.7] for PTC variants; P = .01), particularly for missense PVs in the BRCA1 C-terminal domain (HR = 2.8 [1.4-5.6]; P = .005). In case of BRCA2, for women aged >50 years, the HR was 3.9 (2.0-7.2) for those heterozygous for missense PVs compared with 7.0 (3.3-14.7) for those harboring PTC variants. BRCA1 p.[Cys64Arg] and BRCA2 p.[Trp2626Cys] were associated with particularly low risks of breast cancer compared with other PVs. CONCLUSION: These results have important implications for the counseling of at-risk women who harbor missense PVs in the BRCA1/2 genes.

Genetic architectures of proximal and distal colorectal cancer are partly distinct.

OBJECTIVE: An understanding of the etiologic heterogeneity of colorectal cancer (CRC) is critical for improving precision prevention, including individualized screening recommendations and the discovery of novel drug targets and repurposable drug candidates for chemoprevention. Known differences in molecular characteristics and environmental risk factors among tumors arising in different locations of the colorectum suggest partly distinct mechanisms of carcinogenesis. The extent to which the contribution of inherited genetic risk factors for CRC differs by anatomical subsite of the primary tumor has not been examined. DESIGN: To identify new anatomical subsite-specific risk loci, we performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analyses including data of 48 214 CRC cases and 64 159 controls of European ancestry. We characterised effect heterogeneity at CRC risk loci using multinomial modelling. RESULTS: We identified 13 loci that reached genome-wide significance (p<5×10-8) and that were not reported by previous GWASs for overall CRC risk. Multiple lines of evidence support candidate genes at several of these loci. We detected substantial heterogeneity between anatomical subsites. Just over half (61) of 109 known and new risk variants showed no evidence for heterogeneity. In contrast, 22 variants showed association with distal CRC (including rectal cancer), but no evidence for association or an attenuated association with proximal CRC. For two loci, there was strong evidence for effects confined to proximal colon cancer. CONCLUSION: Genetic architectures of proximal and distal CRC are partly distinct. Studies of risk factors and mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and precision prevention strategies should take into consideration the anatomical subsite of the tumour.

The p.Ser64Leu and p.Pro104Leu missense variants of PALB2 identified in familial pancreatic cancer patients compromise the DNA damage response.

PALB2 has been identified as a breast and pancreatic cancer susceptibility gene. Utilizing a targeted sequencing approach, we discovered two novel germline missense PALB2 variants c.191C>T and c.311C>T, encoding p.Ser64Leu and p.Pro104Leu, respectively, in individuals in a pancreatic cancer registry. No missense PALB2 variants from familial pancreatic cancer patients, and few PALB2 variants overall, have been functionally characterized. Given the known role of PALB2, we tested the impact of p.Ser64Leu and p.Pro104Leu variants on DNA damage responses. Neither p.Ser64Leu nor p.Pro104Leu have clear effects on interactions with BRCA1 and KEAP1, which are mediated by adjacent motifs in PALB2. However, both variants are associated with defective recruitment of PALB2, and the RAD51 recombinase downstream, to DNA damage foci. Furthermore, p.Ser64Leu and p.Pro104Leu both largely compromise DNA double-strand break-initiated homologous recombination, and confer increased cellular sensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR) and the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor Olaparib. Taken together, our results represent the first demonstration of functionally deleterious PALB2 missense variants associated with familial pancreatic cancer and of deleterious variants in the N-terminus outside of the coiled-coil domain. Furthermore, our results suggest the possibility of personalized treatments, using IR or PARP inhibitor, of pancreatic and other cancers that carry a deleterious PALB2 variant.

Metastatic breast cancer patient perceptions of somatic tumor genomic testing.

BACKGROUND: To assess metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patient psychological factors, perceptions, and comprehension of tumor genomic testing. METHODS: In a prospective, single institution, single-arm trial, patients with MBC underwent next-generation sequencing at study entry with sequencing results released at progression. Patients who completed surveys before undergoing sequencing were included in the present secondary analysis (n = 58). We administered four validated psychosocial measures: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Trust in Physician Scale, and Communication and Attitudinal Self-Efficacy scale for Cancer. Genetic comprehension was assessed using 7-question objective and 6-question subjective measures. Longitudinal data were assessed (n = 40) using paired Wilcoxon signed rank and McNemar's test of agreement. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the beginning and end of study in depression, anxiety, physician trust, or self-efficacy (median time on study: 7.6 months). Depression and anxiety were positively associated with each other and both negatively associated with self-efficacy. Self-efficacy decreased from pre- to post-genomic testing (p = 0.05). Objective genetics comprehension did not significantly change from pre- to post-genomic testing, but patients expressed increased confidence in their ability to teach others about genetics (p = 0.04). Objective comprehension was significantly lower in non-white patients (p = 0.02) and patients with lower income (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This is the only study, to our knowledge, to longitudinally evaluate multiple psychological metrics in MBC as patients undergo tumor genomic testing. Overall, psychological dimensions remained stable over the duration of tumor genomic testing. Among patients with MBC, depression and anxiety metrics were negatively correlated with patient self-efficacy. Patients undergoing somatic genomic testing had limited genomic knowledge, which varied by demographic groups and may warrant additional educational intervention. CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION: NCT01987726, registered November 13, 2013.

Maternal age at delivery and fertility of the next generation.

BACKGROUND: While most known causes of infertility relate to the health of the woman and/or her partner, questions have been raised regarding the possible contributions of transgenerational or epigenetic factors. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this hypothesis-generating work was to examine whether Generation 1's (G1's) age at the delivery of G2 (Generation 2) was associated with G2's fertility in later life. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women (G2s) recruited online in 2016. A questionnaire queried G2s regarding demographics and fertility. The primary exposure was G1's age at G2's birth. Outcome measures included the following: 12-month infertility, time to pregnancy, and childlessness. The adjusted relative risk (RR) of G2 infertility and childlessness by G1 age at G2's birth was estimated through a modified Poisson regression approach. The fecundity odds ratio (FOR) for the association between G1's age at G2 birth and time to pregnancy for G2 was estimated by discrete-time survival models, with complementary log-log link. RESULTS: A total of 2,854 women enrolled. We found no association between G1 age at G2's birth and G2 infertility. Being born to a G1 aged 15-19 years was associated with a longer time to pregnancy for G2 (FOR 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.72, 0.99), relative to being born to a G1 aged 20-24 years. We observed the suggestion of a possible increased risk of childlessness among G2s born to older G1s, but the estimate was imprecise. CONCLUSIONS: While being born to a G1 who was 15-19 years old was associated with an increase in G2 time to pregnancy, we found no association between G1 age at G2's birth and infertility and only the suggestion of a modest association with childlessness. These data suggest a possible subtle effect of G1 age at G2's birth on G2 fertility, which warrants further study.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic sequence variants in women of African origin or ancestry.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) pathogenic sequence variants (PSVs) confer elevated risks of multiple cancers. However, most BRCA1/2 PSVs reports focus on European ancestry individuals. Knowledge of the PSV distribution in African descent individuals is poorly understood. We undertook a systematic review of the published literature and publicly available databases reporting BRCA1/2 PSVs also accessed the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA) database to identify African or African descent individuals. Using these data, we inferred which of the BRCA PSVs were likely to be of African continental origin. Of the 43,817 BRCA1/2 PSV carriers in the CIMBA database, 469 (1%) were of African descent. Additional African descent individuals were identified in public databases (n = 291) and the literature (n = 601). We identified 164 unique BRCA1 and 173 unique BRCA2 PSVs in individuals of African ancestry. Of these, 83 BRCA1 and 91 BRCA2 PSVs are of likely or possible African origin. We observed numerous differences in the distribution of PSV type and function in African origin versus non-African origin PSVs. Research in populations of African ancestry with BRCA1/2 PSVs is needed to provide the information needed for clinical management and decision-making in African descent individuals worldwide.

BRCA1/2 Functional Loss Defines a Targetable Subset in Leiomyosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) describe a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors with limited treatment options. Targeted therapies exist for BRCA1/2 gene alterations, but their prevalence and role have not been fully described in STS. Here, we present the largest effort to characterize the frequency of homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair pathway alterations in STS subtypes and highlight the unique nature of leiomyosarcoma (LMS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA sequencing data were analyzed for HR pathway alterations for 1,236 patients with STS. DNA sequencing data from an additional 1,312 patients were used to confirm the prevalence of HR pathway alterations in LMS. Four uterine LMS (uLMS) patients with functional BRCA2 loss were evaluated for response to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition. RESULTS: In an unselected STS study population, BRCA2 alterations were identified in 15 (1%) patients, and homozygous BRCA2 loss was detected in 9 (<1%). However, subset analysis revealed that these BRCA2 alterations were concentrated in uLMS as compared with any other STS subtype. Notably, 10% of uLMS tumors had a BRCA2 alteration. We further report that PARP inhibitors had demonstrated durable clinical benefit in four uLMS patients with BRCA2 loss. CONCLUSION: HR pathway alterations are rare in most STS. However, we identify uLMS to be enriched for BRCA2 loss and report the positive outcomes of a series of patients treated with PARP inhibitors. Our data suggest that patients with uLMS should be considered for somatic BRCA2 profiling. Prospective trials are necessary to confirm the efficacy of PARP inhibition in uLMS. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Soft-tissue sarcomas are a highly morbid, diverse set of tumors with limited treatment options. This study identifies an increased prevalence of functional BRCA1/2 loss in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS). It also presents four patients with uLMS and BRCA2 loss who achieved durable clinical benefit from poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition. These data suggest that patients with uLMS in particular should be screened for BRCA1/2 alterations and may benefit from treatment targeted to these alterations.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in ß-Carotene Oxygenase 1 are Associated with Plasma Lycopene Responses to a Tomato-Soy Juice Intervention in Men with Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Human plasma and tissue lycopene concentrations are heterogeneous even when consuming controlled amounts of tomato or lycopene. OBJECTIVES: Our objective is to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in or near known or putative carotenoid metabolism genes [ß-carotene 15,15' monooxygenase 1 (BCO1), scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SCARB1), ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP), apolipoprotein B-48, elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 2 (ELOVL2), and ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), and an intergenic superoxide dismutase 2, mitochondrial-associated SNP] are predictive of plasma lycopene responses to steady state tomato juice consumption. METHODS: Secondary linear regression analyses of data from a dose-escalation study of prostate cancer patients [n = 47; mean ± SEM age: 60 ± 1 y; BMI (in kg/m2): 32 ± 1] consuming 0, 1, or 2 cans of tomato-soy juice/d (163 mL/can; 20.6 mg lycopene 1.2 mg ß-carotene/can) for 24 ± 0.7 d before prostatectomy were conducted to explore 11 SNP genotype effects on the change in plasma lycopene and plasma and prostate tissue concentrations of lycopene, ß-carotene, phytoene, and phytofluene. RESULTS: Two BCO1 SNP genotypes were significant predictors of the change in plasma lycopene, with SNP effects differing in magnitude and direction, depending on the level of juice intake (rs12934922 × diet group P = 0.02; rs6564851 × diet group P = 0.046). Further analyses suggested that plasma ß-carotene changes were predicted by BCO1 rs12934922 (P < 0.01), prostate lycopene by trending interaction and main effects of BCO1 SNPs (rs12934922 × diet group P = 0.09; rs12934922 P = 0.02; rs6564851 P = 0.053), and prostate ß-carotene by BCO1 SNP interaction and main effects (rs12934922 × diet group P = 0.01; rs12934922 P < 0.01; rs7501331 P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, SNPs in BCO1 and other genes may modulate human plasma and prostate tissue responses to dietary lycopene intake and warrant validation in larger, human controlled feeding intervention and cohort studies. Genetic variants related to carotenoid metabolism may partially explain heterogeneous human blood and tissue responses and may be critical covariates for population studies and clinical trials. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01009736.

Understanding BRCA Mutation Carriers' Preferences for Communication of Genetic Modifiers of Breast Cancer Risk.

Refined estimates of risk based on genetic risk modifiers could assist BRCA mutation carriers in understanding their risk, but it is not clear whether carriers are interested in receiving these estimates or how they might benefit from them. Using qualitative interviews, we investigated female BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers' (N = 20) reactions to numerical and verbal presentations of breast cancer risk based on risk modifiers and assessed women's preferences regarding visual formats for communicating risk. Our results show carriers are interested in receiving refined risk estimates and suggest the estimates may influence decision-making regarding cancer prevention, depending on the nature of the risk assessment. Although accurate and precise estimates of breast cancer risk are most important to women, they preferred quantitative risk estimates expressed as a proportion with or without a population comparison; however, women noted that comparisons to other BRCA mutation carriers were less useful given their high risk. Participants also preferred communication of a risk as a specific percentage versus a range of risk, but a clear preference regarding visual displays was not expressed. Results support many existing recommendations for genetic risk communication and provide guidance for the development of tools incorporating genetic risk modifiers.

Operationalizing the Reciprocal Engagement Model of Genetic Counseling Practice: a Framework for the Scalable Delivery of Genomic Counseling and Testing.

With the advent of widespread genomic testing for diagnostic indications and disease risk assessment, there is increased need to optimize genetic counseling services to support the scalable delivery of precision medicine. Here, we describe how we operationalized the reciprocal engagement model of genetic counseling practice to develop a framework of counseling components and strategies for the delivery of genomic results. This framework was constructed based upon qualitative research with patients receiving genomic counseling following online receipt of potentially actionable complex disease and pharmacogenomics reports. Consultation with a transdisciplinary group of investigators, including practicing genetic counselors, was sought to ensure broad scope and applicability of these strategies for use with any large-scale genomic testing effort. We preserve the provision of pre-test education and informed consent as established in Mendelian/single-gene disease genetic counseling practice. Following receipt of genomic results, patients are afforded the opportunity to tailor the counseling agenda by selecting the specific test results they wish to discuss, specifying questions for discussion, and indicating their preference for counseling modality. The genetic counselor uses these patient preferences to set the genomic counseling session and to personalize result communication and risk reduction recommendations. Tailored visual aids and result summary reports divide areas of risk (genetic variant, family history, lifestyle) for each disease to facilitate discussion of multiple disease risks. Post-counseling, session summary reports are actively routed to both the patient and their physician team to encourage review and follow-up. Given the breadth of genomic information potentially resulting from genomic testing, this framework is put forth as a starting point to meet the need for scalable genetic counseling services in the delivery of precision medicine.

Breast-cancer risk in families with mutations in PALB2.

BACKGROUND: Germline loss-of-function mutations in PALB2 are known to confer a predisposition to breast cancer. However, the lifetime risk of breast cancer that is conferred by such mutations remains unknown. METHODS: We analyzed the risk of breast cancer among 362 members of 154 families who had deleterious truncating, splice, or deletion mutations in PALB2. The age-specific breast-cancer risk for mutation carriers was estimated with the use of a modified segregation-analysis approach that allowed for the effects of PALB2 genotype and residual familial aggregation. RESULTS: The risk of breast cancer for female PALB2 mutation carriers, as compared with the general population, was eight to nine times as high among those younger than 40 years of age, six to eight times as high among those 40 to 60 years of age, and five times as high among those older than 60 years of age. The estimated cumulative risk of breast cancer among female mutation carriers was 14% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9 to 20) by 50 years of age and 35% (95% CI, 26 to 46) by 70 years of age. Breast-cancer risk was also significantly influenced by birth cohort (P<0.001) and by other familial factors (P=0.04). The absolute breast-cancer risk for PALB2 female mutation carriers by 70 years of age ranged from 33% (95% CI, 25 to 44) for those with no family history of breast cancer to 58% (95% CI, 50 to 66) for those with two or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer at 50 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Loss-of-function mutations in PALB2 are an important cause of hereditary breast cancer, with respect both to the frequency of cancer-predisposing mutations and to the risk associated with them. Our data suggest the breast-cancer risk for PALB2 mutation carriers may overlap with that for BRCA2 mutation carriers. (Funded by the European Research Council and others.).

Counselees' Perspectives of Genomic Counseling Following Online Receipt of Multiple Actionable Complex Disease and Pharmacogenomic Results: a Qualitative Research Study.

Genomic applications raise multiple challenges including the optimization of genomic counseling (GC) services as part of the results delivery process. More information on patients' motivations, preferences, and informational needs are essential to guide the development of new, more efficient practice delivery models that capitalize on the existing strengths of a limited genetic counseling workforce. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a subset of counselees from the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative following online receipt of multiple personalized genomic test reports. Participants previously had either in-person GC (chronic disease cohort, n = 20; mean age 60 years) or telephone GC (community cohort, n = 31; mean age 46.8 years). Transcripts were analyzed using a Grounded Theory framework. Major themes that emerged from the interviews include 1) primary reasons for seeking GC were to clarify results, put results into perspective relative to other health-related concerns, and to receive personalized recommendations; 2) there is need for a more participant driven approach in terms of mode of GC communication (in-person, phone, video), and refining the counseling agenda pre-session; and 3) there was strong interest in the option of follow up GC. By clarifying counselees' expectations, views and desired outcomes, we have uncovered a need for a more participant-driven GC model when potentially actionable genomic results are received online.

Functional Analysis of BARD1 Missense Variants in Homology-Directed Repair of DNA Double Strand Breaks.

Genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) are often sequenced in search of mutations that are predictive of susceptibility to these cancer types, but the sequence results are frequently ambiguous because of the detection of missense substitutions for which the clinical impact is unknown. The BARD1 protein is the heterodimeric partner of BRCA1 and is included on clinical gene panels for testing for susceptibility to HBOC. Like BRCA1, it is required for homology-directed DNA repair (HDR). We measured the HDR function of 29 BARD1 missense variants, 27 culled from clinical test results and two synthetic variants. Twenty-three of the assayed variants were functional for HDR; of these, four are known neutral variants. Three variants showed intermediate function, and three others were defective in HDR. When mapped to BARD1 domains, residues crucial for HDR were located in the N- and C- termini of BARD1. In the BARD1 RING domain, critical residues mapped to the zinc-coordinating amino acids and to the BRCA1-BARD1 binding interface, highlighting the importance of interaction between BRCA1 and BARD1 for HDR activity. Based on these results, we propose that the HDR assay is a useful complement to genetic analyses to classify BARD1 variants of unknown clinical significance.