Implementing Systematic Genetic Counseling and Multigene Germline Testing for Individuals With Pancreatic Cancer

Anu Chittenden, Sigurdis Haraldsdottir, Chinedu Ukaegbu, Meghan Underhill-Blazey, Shraddha Gaonkar, Hajime Uno, Lauren K. Brais, Kimberly Perez, Brian M. Wolpin, Sapna Syngal, Matthew B. Yurgelun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: National guidelines recommend genetic counseling and multigene germline testing (GC/MGT) for all patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study's aim was to assess real-world effectiveness of implementing systematic GC/MGT for all patients with PDAC at a high-volume academic institution. METHODS: An iterative process for systematizing GC/MGT was developed in which gastrointestinal oncology providers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute were recommended to refer all patients with PDAC for GC/MGT (clinician-directed referral). Workflows were subsequently changed such that patients with PDAC were automatically offered GC/MGT when scheduling their initial oncology consultation (automated referral). Clinical and germline data were collected on a consecutive cohort of patients with PDAC undergoing GC/MGT during a 25-month enrollment period (19-month clinician-directed referrals; 6-month automated referrals). RESULTS: One thousand two hundred fourteen patients with PDAC were seen for initial oncologic evaluation, 266 (21.9%) of whom underwent GC/MGT. Compared with baseline clinician-directed referrals, implementation of automated referrals led to a significant increase in patients with PDAC undergoing GC/MGT (16.5% v 38.0%, P < .001), including those undergoing multigene germline testing (MGT) ≤ 7 days of initial oncology evaluation (14.7% v 60.3%, P < .001), with preserved pathogenic variant detection rates (10.0% v 11.2%, P = 0.84). 16 of 28 (57.1%) pathogenic variant carriers had relatives who pursued cascade germline testing, and 13 of 26 (50.0%) carriers with incurable disease received targeted therapy based on MGT results. CONCLUSION: Implementation of systematic GC/MGT in patients with PDAC is feasible and leads to management changes for patients with PDAC and their families. GC/MGT workflows that bypass the need for clinician referral result in superior uptake and time to testing. Further investigation is needed to identify other barriers and facilitators of universal GC/MGT.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e236-e247
JournalJCO Oncology Practice
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2021

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