On April 27, 2018 Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYGN), a leader in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine, reported that results from a large prospective process-intervention study that evaluated genetic testing practices in the obstetrics-gynecology setting will be presented at the 2018 ACOG annual meeting in Austin, Texas (Press release, Myriad Genetics, APR 27, 2018, View Source [SID1234525795]). The key findings are that 23.8 percent of patients qualified for genetic testing based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines and 5.5 percent of patients who underwent testing were found to carry a pathogenic mutation.
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"Myriad is committed to helping obstetricians and gynecologists incorporate genetic testing into their practices and help expand patients’ access to personalized medicine," said Royce (Terry) Adkins, M.D., FACOG, board certified ob-gyn physician and vice president of Medical Affairs, Myriad Genetic Laboratories. "Importantly, this study found that process-intervention strategies and the myRisk Hereditary Cancer test can help doctors find women at increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers so that steps can be taken to lower their risk."
The study data are summarized below. Follow Myriad on Twitter via @MyriadGenetics and stay informed about ACOG annual meeting news and updates by using the hashtag #ACOG18.
Title: Hereditary Cancer Genetic Testing in Community-Based Obstetrics and Gynecology Settings.
Presenters: Mark S. DeFrancesco, M.D., FACOG, Women’s Health Connecticut and
Richard N. Waldman, M.D., FACOG, Associates for Women’s Medicine.
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2018, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. CST.
Poster Location: Session K, #3K.
The study evaluated the impact of incorporating routine hereditary cancer risk assessment, counseling and follow-up genetic testing in the community obstetrics-gynecology practice setting. The trial included two large obstetrics-gynecology practice groups in two states with five practice sites. The process intervention included baseline process assessment, refinement of clinic-specific patient screening workflows and tools and training in hereditary cancer risk screening and follow-up. Outcomes related to hereditary cancer screening and testing were measured during an eight-week post-intervention period. Patients and providers also were surveyed about satisfaction with the process.
The results show that 3,811 women were screened for hereditary cancer risk. Among those screened, 23.8 percent met NCCN guidelines for genetic testing. Of those screened, 39 percent agreed to undergo genetic testing with the myRisk Hereditary Cancer test. Importantly, the myRisk Hereditary Cancer test found pathogenic mutations in more than five percent of women tested. All healthcare providers in this study said they would continue to use the established hereditary cancer risk assessment process. Additionally, 98.8 percent of patients referred for genetic testing were able to understand the information provided and 97.6 percent were satisfied with the overall process.
"This study demonstrates that it is feasible and beneficial to incorporate hereditary cancer screening, education and testing into community obstetrics-gynecology practices," said Mark DeFrancesco, M.D., study investigator and managing partner at Westwood Women’s Health in Waterbury, Connecticut, a division of Women’s Health Connecticut. "Patients and providers were satisfied, and integrating multigene panel testing in this setting identified patients with significant cancer risks who would not otherwise have been identified."
The findings from this study also support an ACOG position statement called Access to Genetic Testing, which was released in January 2018.
"Importantly, this study supports the ACOG position that obstetrician-gynecologists are qualified to counsel and order genetic tests by incorporating hereditary cancer screening into routine practice," said Richard N. Waldman, M.D., study investigator and president of Associates for Women’s Medicine. "Understanding a woman’s hereditary cancer risk can dramatically impact medical management to prevent or delay cancer occurrence and to inform cancer care."
About Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer
The Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer test uses an extensive number of sophisticated technologies and proprietary algorithms in an 850 step laboratory process to evaluate 28 clinically-significant genes associated with eight hereditary cancer sites including: breast, colon, ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic, prostate and gastric cancers and melanoma. For more information visit: View Source