Date Range: 2021 (2) Fall

ICARE Newsletter Fall 2021 

Resource Spotlight: National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Genetics PDQ 

 

Looking for a place to get the latest curated information about inherited cancers? Look no further… Provide evidence-basedsummaries about inheritedcancer genetics for healthprofessionals and patients Summaries updated basedon monthly review ofpublished literature Written and maintained by amultidisciplinary Editorial Board ofexperts in medical genetics, oncology,and related specialties Visit https://tinyurl.com/NCIPDQ and https://www.cancer.gov/publications/pdq/editorial-boards/genetics for more information

Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/icare-newsletter-fall-2021-resource-spotlight-national-cancer-institutes-cancer-genetics-pdq/

ICARE Newsletter Fall 2021 

Direct-to-Consumer Tests: Not Reliable to Detect BRCA1/2 Mutations 

Researchers reported that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) tests, which are used by DTC tests such as 23andMe, are not reliable in identifying the majority of BRCA1/2 mutations or other inherited cancer gene mutations. The SNP test used by many DTC ancestry and DNA companies is designed to detect common traits many people share. However, when …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/icare-newsletter-fall-2021-direct-to-consumer-tests-not-reliable-to-detect-brca1-2-mutations/

ICARE Newsletter Fall 2021 

Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act of 2021  

Under current Medicare guidelines, only those with “signs, symptoms, complaints, or personal histories of disease” meet the criteria for medical services coverage. Thus, genetic testing is only covered for those already diagnosed with cancer, regardless of family history. If someone without cancer has an inherited mutation that increases cancer risk (e.g., BRCA1/2), Medicare may not …

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ICARE Newsletter Fall 2021 

Community Spotlight

At the age of 51, my first and only colonoscopy revealed 100 polyps in my colon, rectum, and anuseven though I had no symptoms or family history. I was immediately referred to a Certified GeneticCounselor at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawai’i. Germline DNA testing revealed I had attenuatedfamilial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP), due to an …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/icare-newsletter-fall-2021-community-spotlight/

ICARE Newsletter Fall 2021 

Ask the Expert 

 

In each newsletter, we give participants the opportunity to have their questions addressed by experts in thefield. This question was addressed by Kerry Schaffer, MD, medical oncologist at Vanderbilt University MedicalCenter with a focus on urological cancers. Q. Is there enough information to consider using PARP inhibitors to treat inherited forms ofprostate cancer? A. Over …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/icare-newsletter-fall-2021-ask-the-expert/

ICARE Newsletter Fall 2021 
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Polygenic Risk Scores and Breast Cancer Risks: BRCA1/2, PALB2, CHEK2, ATM , and beyond!

A recent study found use of a polygenic risk score (PRS) modified the estimated riskof breast cancer among both carriers and non-carriers of inherited breast cancerpredisposition genes. Taking PRS into account, more than 95% of BRCA1, BRCA2,and PALB2 carriers had greater than 20% lifetime risks of breast cancer. In contrast,among ATM and CHEK2 carriers without …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/icare-newsletter-fall-2021-polygenic-risk-scores-and-breast-cancer-risks-brca1-2-palb2-chek2-atm-and-beyond/

Newsletter Fall 2021

Inherited Cancer Treatment Updates

Early-stage, high-risk breast cancer in BRCA carriers: Results of the highly awaited phase 3 OlympiA trial showed promising results for EARLY STAGE (i.e., localized Stage 2-3) high-risk breast cancer patients with a BRCA mutation who were treated with a PARP inhibitor (olaparib) in the adjuvant setting (i.e., AFTER surgery).1 Early-stage breast cancer in this trial …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/newsletter-fall-2021-inherited-cancer-treatment-updates/

Newsletter Fall 2021

Modifying Risks in BRCA Carriers

Breast cancer risks: A risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (i.e., removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes) in BRCA carriers was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer within five years after surgery, with evidence of longer-term risk reduction among those with BRCA1 variants.1 Ovarian cancer risks: A new study reported that the use of oral contraceptives …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/newsletter-fall-2021-modifying-risks-in-brca-carriers/

Newsletter Fall 2021

Breast Cancer Risks Remain High in PALB2 & BRCA

A new study found that lifetime breast cancer risk is 15% or more in female BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 carriers over age 65. This level of risk warrants consideration for continuing breast MRI.1 These results are similar to those of a study that included ICARE participants,2 which reported the risk of developing breast cancer remains …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/newsletter-fall-2021-breast-cancer-risks-remain-high-in-palb2-brca/

Newsletter Fall 2021

Prostate Cancer and PALB2

A new Polish study based on two specific founder mutations in PALB2 reported that mutations in this gene may predispose to an aggressive, lethal form of prostate cancer.1 The investigators studied PALB2 prostate cancer risks, characteristics, and outcomes in almost 5,500 men with prostate cancer and compared them to over 8,000 cancer-free adults from Poland. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/newsletter-fall-2021-prostate-cancer-and-palb2/

Newsletter Fall 2021

PALB2 : Increasingly Recognized as the Third Most Important Inherited Breast Cancer Gene

In May 2021, a clinical practice resource was released by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) from a global team of cancer genetics specialists (see figure) to help guide the care of PALB2 carriers.1 PALB2 is considered the third most important breast cancer risk gene, after BRCA1 and BRCA2, with PALB2 carriers …

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Newsletter Fall 2021

Updates to NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment

Breast, Ovarian, and Pancreatic Guidelines V.1.2022: Released August 11th, 2021 Colorectal Cancer Guidelines V.1.2021: Released May 11th, 2021 Check out the full NCCN guidelines by creating a FREE account at www.nccn.org

Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/newsletter-fall-2021-updates-to-nccn-genetic-familial-high-risk-assessment/