Utility of a mainstreamed genetic testing pathway in breast and ovarian cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eur J Med Genet
; 63(12): 104098, 2020 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-917288
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Mainstreamed genetic testing (MGT) obviates the need for a cancer genetics consultation, since trained oncologists (O) and gynaecologists (G) provide counseling, prescribe testing and deliver results. We report results from our MGT program and emphasize its utility during the COVID-19 lockdown, when cancer genetics clinics had suspended their activity.METHODS:
An MGT pathway for breast and ovarian cancer (BC/OC) patients was established in Jan-2018 between the Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris.Sorbonne Université Cancer Genetics team and the Oncology/Gynecology departments at one teaching and two regional hospitals. Trained O + G evaluated patients with the Manchester Scoring System. A 12-point threshold was recommended for testing. Next-generation sequencing of BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, RAD51C and RAD51D was performed. Results were delivered to the patient by O/G. Pathogenic variants (PV) carriers were referred to the genetics clinic. Results are reported for the 2nd-Jan-2018 to 1st-June-2020 period. That includes the eight-week COVID-19 lockdown and three-week de-confinement phase 1.RESULTS:
Results were available for 231/234 patients. Twenty-eight (12.1%) carried a PV. Of the 27 patients tested during the COVID-19 period, three carried a PV, two in BRCA1 and one in RAD51C. The clinical impact was immediate for the two BRCA1 BC cases undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, since double mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy will now be performed using two-step strategies.CONCLUSIONS:
MGT guaranteed care continuity in BC/OC patients during the critical phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, with immediate implications for PV carriers. More broadly, we report for the first time the successful implementation of MGT in France.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ovarian Neoplasms
/
Breast Neoplasms
/
Genetic Testing
/
Pandemics
/
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Variants
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur J Med Genet
Journal subject:
Genetics, Medical
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
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