Prospective Pilot Study: Streamlining Genetic Testing for Newly Diagnosed Ovarian Cancer
Posted: Thursday, February 4, 2021
According to findings presented in Gynecologic Oncology, genetic testing performed at the point of care for patients with ovarian cancer is feasible, increases the number of tests performed, and improves time to results when compared with referrals to patients for pretest counseling. C. Bethan Powell, MD, of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Gynecologic Cancer Program, San Francisco, and colleagues presented their findings after developing a streamlined genetic education and testing process in which oncologists offered multigene panel testing to women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer.
“We have developed an effective and efficient pathway that provided a diverse population access to genetic testing with the goal of implementing point-of-care genetic testing by oncology providers not only for ovarian cancer patients but expanding to patients with breast cancer and other cancers,” the authors concluded. “We hope that our resources will be valuable to providers from these systems as aids for developing a similar process of pretest education and provider testing of women with ovarian cancer.”
The authors developed a prospective pilot study at two gynecologic oncology hubs in an integrated health-care system in northern California. After being offered multigene panel testing, the patients received selective genetic counseling. The authors compared outcomes from study participants and women from other hubs in the health-care system.
Of the women at the study sites, 40 participated, and all underwent genetic testing. At the other sites, where 101 patients were diagnosed, 85% were referred to genetics, and 67% completed testing. In the pilot group, the time from diagnosis to blood draw and notification of results was 18.5 days and 34 days, respectively, compared with 25.5 and 53 days, respectively, for those at the standard sites.
Panel testing found nine pathogenic mutations (22.5%) in the pilot group and seven (10.3%) in the standard group. The authors reported that patients and providers were “highly satisfied” with the streamlined process.
Disclosure: The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
