Are we still adjusting to multigene panel testing? An NCI-designated cancer center's 2-year experience.

Abstract

1585 Background: Genetic testing for hereditary cancer predisposition has rapidly changed over the past few years with the introduction of multigene panel testing. Multigene testing has evolved from disease-agnostic comprehensive (C) panels alone to include disease-specific but expanded (DSE) panels as well as guideline-based (GB) panels. We analyzed trends in utilization of genetic testing over a two-year period in one NCI-designated Cancer Center, hypothesizing that over time genetic testing usage would trend toward more disease-specific panels. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of our program’s database for all germline genetic tests ordered from 9/1/2013 to 8/31/2015 (n = 619; 246 in year 1, and 373 in year 2). Tests were categorized into three groups based on specificity: GB (range: 2-12 genes tested), DSE (12-35 genes tested), and C (28-80 genes tested). The Chi-square test was used to analyze test types ordered in year 1 (9/1/2013-8/31/2014) and year 2 (9/1/2014 – 8/31/2015) and the proportions of resulting mutation types. Results: A total of 604 germline genetic tests met the inclusion criteria: 39 GB (20 year 1, 19 year 2), 171 DSE (43 year 1, 128 year 2), and 394 C (180 year 1, 214 year 2). Compared to year 1, a larger proportion of DSE tests (35% v. 18%, p < 0.001), and a smaller proportion of C tests (59% v. 74%, p < 0.001) and GB tests (5% vs. 8%, p = 0.146) were ordered. DSE panels revealed a pathogenic variant (PV) at a rate of 16% and a variant of unknown significance (VUS) at a rate of 24%. C tests revealed a PV and VUS at rates of 14% and 29%, respectively. GB tests revealed a PV and VUS at rates of 21% and 18%, respectively. No statistically significant differences in detection rates of mutation types (PV or VUS) were found between GB, DSE, or C tests. Conclusions: The rates of PV detection were not significantly different between test types, but the profile of tests ordered changed over time to favor DSE panels. Exploration of factors contributing to changing trends in genetic testing are warranted as counselors and clinicians adapt to the quickly expanding number of genes associated with hereditary cancer risks, many of them moderate-risk, and the evolving landscape of multigene panel testing.