A study by Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center researchers showed that most terminally ill cancer patients who were eligible for genetic testing did not receive it even though it could potentially save a relative's life.
The research, reported by John M. Quillin, PhD, and associates in the October issue of the Journal of Genetic Counseling, is the first to document the prevalence of hereditary cancer risk and the need for genetic services and patient education among terminally ill cancer patients.
"Our findings suggest opportunities for identifying hereditary cancer are being lost, even as the window for identifying familial risk is closing," Quillin commented in a press release.
The investigators collected information on 43 terminally cancer patients through medical record review and structured interviews with patients or their surrogates. Nine (21%) patients had a strong genetic risk. Although currently available genetic tests could have addressed this risk for several patients, none of the nine patients had received previous genetic counseling or testing or been advised about DNA banking.
This low level of awareness of genetic testing and DNA banking is similar to that found in other studies, according to the authors. They point out that an estimated 5% to 10% of cancer patients have a strong hereditary component and advise that genetic testing should be done shortly after diagnosis. “Surviving relatives may be losing opportunities to know if their family has detectable genetic markers for cancer risk, with lost opportunities for genetic counseling, prevention, screening, and early treatment,” they write.