Genetic Counseling

Advances in technology and decreased testing costs have led to a rise in the number of genes associated with inherited cancer risk for which testing is clinically available. Read More ›

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations have been shown to confer an increased risk for ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary perineal cancer. As a result, guidelines recommend bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) upon completion of child bearing, and preferably between the ages of 35 and 40 years as a risk-reducing option. However, what has been less clear is the association of uterine cancer with BRCA. The data have been conflicting: some studies have suggested a slight increased risk, but others have not. Therefore, hysterectomy has not been included in national medical management guidelines.

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In the past few years, some of the classic phenotypes and associated cancer risk estimates of inherited cancer syndromes have been questioned. This is due partly to increased access to genetic testing as well as to the availability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels for inherited cancer. Read More ›

The ability to analyze multiple genes at the same time has led to the estimate that 20% to 25% of women with ovarian cancer have an inherited mutation in a cancer‑predisposing gene. Although this association has been noted for a while, until recently there was not enough data available to determine the lifetime ovarian cancer risk for women with a mutation in some of these genes. Read More ›

Multiplex genetic testing in BRCA1/2-negative cancer patients with in-person genetic counseling allows informed decision-making while decreasing short-term anxiety, according to data presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read More ›

The association of POLE and POLD1 with colorectal cancer risk was demonstrated in 2013. Palles and colleagues studied families with a dominant pattern of inherited colorectal cancer and multiple adenomas through whole genome sequencing. Read More ›

The number of genes associated with breast cancer risk continues to increase. Recently, through whole exome sequencing, 2 groups of researchers have demonstrated that mutations in RECQL increase the risk of breast cancer. Read More ›

The Oncology Nurse–APN/PA conducted an interview with Jennifer Temel, MD. The written interview is based on a presentation at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Phase III Trials for Anamorelin in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Cachexia (ROMANA 1 and 2). Read More ›