Germline Genetic Testing Feasible for Advanced Prostate Cancer

WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Germline genetic testing followed by consultation with a genetic counselor is clinically impactful and yields high satisfaction for patients with advanced prostate cancer, according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The Journal of Urology.

Kelsey E. Breen, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and colleagues examined the feasibility and clinical impact of an alternative hereditary genetic testing model for prostate cancer. Individuals with advanced prostate cancer were provided pretest education and referred for testing of 14 genes associated with hereditary prostate cancer. Participants were contacted by a genetic counselor by phone to obtain family history and discuss results. Patient satisfaction with pretest education and the decision to undergo genetic testing, as well as related changes in clinical management, were assessed.

The researchers found that 51 (10.2 percent) of the 501 participants who consented to germline analysis had at least one pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant. Overall, 45.8 percent of eligible participants who tested positive discussed change in treatment. High satisfaction was reported for pretest education and the decision to undergo genetic testing. Return of results occurred at a median of 20 days after sample collection.

"This method allowed for informed patient consent with efficient communication of results, potentially altering the clinical management of individuals with advanced prostate cancer," the authors write. "This process and education material could serve as a model to other institutions experiencing a high volume of prostate cancer patients."

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text