Genetic Susceptibility Testing Research Articles

Disclosure of Genetic Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease to Cognitively Healthy Individuals-From Current Practice towards a Personalised Medicine Scenario.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a genetically complex disorder. In addition to the relatively small number of pathogenic variants causing autosomal dominant AD, many others have been associated with the much more common sporadic form. The E4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the first discovered genetic risk factor for AD. In addition, more than 70 genetic risk loci contributing to AD have been identified. Current guidelines do not recommend AD susceptibility genetic testing in cognitively healthy adults because the implications for clinical care are limited. However, secondary prevention clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies enrol individuals based on genetic criteria, and participants are often informed of APOE testing results. Moreover, the availability of direct-to-consumer genetic testing allows individuals to learn their own AD genetic risk profile without medical supervision. A number of research protocols for AD susceptibility genetic testing have been proposed. In Italy, disclosure processes and protocols beyond those developed for inherited dementia have not been established yet. We reviewed the literature on the current practice and clinical issues related to disclosing AD genetic risk to cognitively healthy individuals and provide suggestions that may help to develop specific guidelines at the national level.

Abstract A029: A randomized study of two Strategies of remote Genetic Education, Risk Assessment, and Testing (GENERATE) for family members of patients with pancreatic cancer

Abstract Background: Uptake of genetic testing for cancer susceptibility in family members of cancer patients is suboptimal. The GENetic Education, Risk Assessment, and TEsting (GENERATE) study evaluated two strategies of remote genetic education and testing in relatives of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. Methods: Eligible participants had: a first-degree relative with PDAC or had a known pathogenic germline variant (PGV) in one of thirteen PDAC predisposition genes (APC, ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CDKN2A, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PALB2, PMS2, STK11, or TP53) and a first- or second-degree relative with PDAC. Participants were cluster-randomized by family into one of two arms. Arm 1 included an interactive telemedicine session with a genetic counselor, followed by genetic testing at a commercial laboratory. Arm 2 involved remote online genetic education and testing at the commercial laboratory without the interactive session. The primary outcome was uptake of genetic testing across study arms, which was compared by permutation tests and mixed-effects logistic regression models. Results: Between 5/8/2019 and 6/1/2021, 424 families were randomized, including 601 participants (n=296 Arm 1; n=305 Arm 2). The uptake of genetic testing was 87% (257/296) in Arm 1 and 93% (284/305) in Arm 2 (p=0.014). Participants in Arm 1 were significantly less likely to obtain genetic testing compared to Arm 2 (Adjusted ratio [Arm1/Arm2] 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.78-0.98). BRCA2, ATM, CDKN2A and PALB2 were the most common PDAC susceptibility genes in which PGVs were identified. Conclusions: Remote methods of genetic education and testing are successful alternatives to traditional germline susceptibility testing. Citation Format: Nicolette J. Rodriguez, C. Sloane Furniss, Matthew B. Yurgelun, Chinedu Ukaegbu, Pamela E. Constantinou, Ileana Fortes, Alyson Caruso, Alison N. Schwartz, Jill E. Stopfer, Meghan Underhill-Blazey, Barbara Kenner, Scott H. Nelson, Sydney Okumura, Alicia Y. Zhou, Tara B. Coffin, Hajime Uno, Miki Horiguchi, Allyson J. Ocean, Florencia McAllister, Andrew M. Lowy, Scott M. Lippman, Alison P. Klein, Lisa Madlensky, Gloria M. Petersen, Judy E. Garber, Michael G. Goggins, Anirban Maitra, Sapna Syngal. A randomized study of two Strategies of remote Genetic Education, Risk Assessment, and Testing (GENERATE) for family members of patients with pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2022 Sep 13-16; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(22 Suppl):Abstract nr A029.

POST COVID RECURRENT FEVER IN A CHILD WITH GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY TO FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER

<h3>Introduction</h3> Children and adults with post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC) sometimes report recurrent fevers. We present the case of 13-year-old male with PASC recurrent fever who was found to have a heterozygous mutation in the gene associated with Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). <h3>Case Description</h3> Our patient presented with recurrent fever 6 months after acute SARs-CoV-2 infection in January 2022. He endorsed prior episodes of unexplained fever and flushing prior but his recurrent fevers (39 C) post COVID had become more frequent occurring every few days. Laboratory analysis when he was afebrile demonstrated normal serum ESR, CRP, and CMP and normal cytokine levels. Genetic (In-Vitae) panel testing for autoinflammatory syndromes revealed a pathogenic heterozygous missense mutation in MEFV (p.A744S), the gene that controls pyrin production. A trial of colchicine was recommended, and he was referred to pediatric rheumatology. <h3>Discussion</h3> FMF is a genetic disorder that causes recurrent episodes of fever and almost always presents before age 20. Clinically significant FMF gene mutations lead to poorly functional pyrin; a protein that controls inflammation. Most children look and feel well between episodes but some children have such frequent episodes that they do not fully recover. In such cases, daily use of Colchicine should be considered as a safe and effective medication to control fever episodes. This report highlights the utility of genetic testing to identify potential causes of recurrent fever after COVID. Children with PASC related recurrent fevers should have genetic testing for susceptibility to FEF as this is a potentially treatable condition.

Postoperative weakness and anesthetic-associated rhabdomyolysis in a pediatric patient: a case report and review of the literature

BackgroundAnesthesia-associated rhabdomyolysis is a rare complication of surgery that causes postoperative myalgia, weakness, and potential renal failure if not managed promptly. Predisposing conditions that may lead to this complication include muscular dystrophies and myopathies.Case presentationThis rare case describes a pediatric non-Indigenous Australian patient developing this complication, with no known predisposing risk factors, and no clear etiology. A 9-year-old child with a background of asthma underwent an elective removal of keloid scar on her chest wall. The procedure was brief and uncomplicated, with an uneventful induction of anesthesia. During the emergence period, she developed acutely raised airway pressures with bronchospasm and laryngospasm requiring the use of salbutamol and suxamethonium with good effect. In the initial postoperative period, the patient complained of generalized myalgia and muscle weakness and was unable to mobilize independently. There was transient recovery to normal function; however, a recurrence of symptoms the following day with associated myalgias warranted admission to hospital. She was found to have rhabdomyolysis that was managed conservatively with a full recovery of several weeks. She was thoroughly investigated for any underlying cause, including genetic testing for malignant hyperthermia susceptibility (she had a variant of unknown significance but was negative for the known genetic abnormalities that cause malignant hyperthermia).ConclusionThis case report demonstrates the importance of considering anesthesia-associated rhabdomyolysis as a differential for acute postoperative weakness, and outlines an investigative approach. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first case described in the pediatric literature to report biphasic progression of symptoms.

MYCOBACTERIUM SHIMOIDEI: A RARE NONTUBERCULOUS INFECTION IN A US PATIENT

MYCOBACTERIUM SHIMOIDEI: A RARE NONTUBERCULOUS INFECTION IN A US PATIENT

Using Social Media to Facilitate Communication About Women’s Testing: Tool Validation Study

BackgroundStrong participant recruitment practices are critical to public health research but are difficult to achieve. Traditional recruitment practices are often time consuming, costly, and fail to adequately target difficult-to-reach populations. Social media platforms such as Facebook are well-positioned to address this area of need, enabling researchers to leverage existing social networks and deliver targeted information. The MAGENTA (Making Genetic Testing Accessible) study aimed to improve the availability of genetic testing for hereditary cancer susceptibility in at-risk individuals through the use of a web-based communication system along with social media advertisements to improve reach.ObjectiveThis paper is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Facebook as an outreach tool for targeting women aged ≥30 years for recruitment in the MAGENTA study.MethodsWe designed and implemented paid and unpaid social media posts with ongoing assessment as a primary means of research participant recruitment in collaboration with patient advocates. Facebook analytics were used to assess the effectiveness of paid and unpaid outreach efforts.ResultsOver the course of the reported recruitment period, Facebook materials had a reach of 407,769 people and 57,248 (14.04%) instances of engagement, indicating that approximately 14.04% of people who saw information about the study on Facebook engaged with the content. Paid advertisements had a total reach of 373,682. Among those reached, just <15% (54,117/373,682, 14.48%) engaged with the page content. Unpaid posts published on the MAGENTA Facebook page resulted in a total of 34,087 reach and 3131 instances of engagement, indicating that around 9.19% (3131/34,087) of people who saw unpaid posts engaged. Women aged ≥65 years reported the best response rate, with approximately 43.95% (15,124/34,410) of reaches translating to engagement. Among the participants who completed the eligibility questionnaire, 27.44% (3837/13,983) had heard about the study through social media or another webpage.ConclusionsFacebook is a useful way of enhancing clinical trial recruitment of women aged ≥30 years who have a potentially increased risk for ovarian cancer by promoting news stories over social media, collaborating with patient advocacy groups, and running paid and unpaid campaigns.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02993068; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02993068

Implicações éticas dos testes genéticos de suscetibilidade ao câncer de mama

Abstract Breast cancer is a public health problem because it is the malignant neoplasm with the highest incidence in women worldwide. The hereditary form corresponds to about 5% to 10% of all cases and is directly related to the inheritance of genetic mutations. The main ones occur in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 tumor suppressor genes. The identification of these mutations is extremely important because of the high risk of breast cancer development in this population, allowing differentiated screening strategies and the adoption of risk reduction measures. However, reflections on the ethical aspects related to the indiscriminate use of genetic testing are important and necessary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and opinion of physicians of an oncology reference center on the indication of genetic tests for susceptibility to breast cancer given the ethical dilemmas to which they are submitted in medical practice.

Mainstreamed genetic testing of patients with breast cancer: Experience from a single surgeon’s practice in a large U.S. academic center.

10577 Background: Germline genetic testing for cancer susceptibility has proven to be a powerful tool in cancer risk assessment, screening, and prevention but a huge gap exists between the number of germline genetic testing candidates and the number of patients actually tested. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mainstreamed genetic testing (MGT) model into a single academic breast surgeon’s practice on genetic test completion. Methods: Before September 2019 (pre-MGT phase), a breast surgery practice at Massachusetts General Hospital followed a traditional model of pre-test consultation with a genetic professional. After September 2019 (post-MGT phase), the same practice offered eligible patients with immediate testing in the same visit. We evaluated the appointment completion in the pre-MGT phase and compared the test uptake and test results between the two phases. Results: We identified 204 patients in the pre-MGT phase and 202 patients in the post-MGT phase. In the pre-MGT phase, the median waiting time for genetic counseling was seven days for patients with a newly diagnosed cancer, 211 days for patients with a remote personal history of cancer, and 224 days for non-cancer patients who had a family history. A total of 105 (51.5%) patients completed a genetic counseling appointment (Table). In the post-MGT phase, a significantly higher proportion of patients (88.1%, p &lt; 0.001) consented to genetic testing, while the proportion of patients who tested positive was lower (pathogenic variant: 11.9% vs. 20.0%; variant of uncertain significance: 19.9% vs. 28.0%; p = 0.047). Conclusions: Implementing MGT can reduce the number of clinical visits, significantly shorten patients’ wait time to test initiation, and increase the completion of genetic testing. [Table: see text]

Distress facing increased genetic risk of cancer: The role of social support and emotional suppression

ObjectivesHealthy individuals from hereditary cancer families undergoing genetic testing for cancer susceptibility (GTC) report more distress when they perceive their social support as low and suppress their emotions. This study aimed to explore how suppressing emotions and perceiving others as unsupportive are related with cancer-risk distress. MethodsWe performed a regression-based mediation analysis to assess if expressive suppression mediates or is mediated by perceived social support in the relation with cancer-risk distress. Participants were 125 healthy adults aged over 18 (M = 36.07, SD = 12.86), mostly female (72,4%), who undergone GTC to assess the presence of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer or Lynch syndromes. ResultsControlling for age and gender, we found a moderate size indirect effect of social support on cancer-risk distress through expressive suppression (β = −0.095) and a direct effect of expressive suppression on cancer-risk distress. ConclusionsWhen healthy individuals from hereditary cancer families perceive their social network as less responsive, they tend to not express their emotions, which relates to increased distress facing GTC. Practice implicationsPractitioners may assess cancer-risk related distress before the GTC and offer distressed individuals interventions focused on changing emotion regulation strategies in a safe group context.

EP507: Patients’ reasons for genetic testing refusal in cancer evaluations: An analysis of the literature and opportunities to educate

eP507: Patients’ reasons for genetic testing refusal in cancer evaluations: An analysis of the literature and opportunities to educate

Malaysian nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding BRCA genetic testing.

Breast cancer genetic (BRCA) testing for cancer susceptibility is an emerging technology in medicine. This study assessed the knowledge and attitude of nurses regarding BRCA genetic testing in a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 nurses using a simple random sampling technique in a tertiary teaching hospital in northeast peninsular Malaysia. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic data, assessing nurses' knowledge and attitude regarding BRCA genetic testing. Fisher exact test analysis was used to determine the association between socio-demographic characteristics with knowledge and attitude level. In addition, the overall knowledge and attitude were analysed using the sum score of each outcome based on Bloom's cut-off point. Of the 150 nurses, 66.7% had high knowledge level about BRCA genetic testing, and 58% were positive towards genetic testing. The participants' mean age was 28.9 years (SD = 6.70). Years of working experience (p = 0.014) significantly influenced knowledge level on BRCA genetic testing, whereas speciality working experience (p <0.001) significantly influenced BRCA genetic testing attitudes. The results show that most nurses have adequate knowledge of BRCA genetic testing. However, their attitude could be termed negative. Therefore, targeted education programs on BRCA genetic testing and risk are needed to improve the knowledge and attitude of nurses and, ultimately, can educate the women and increase health-seeking behaviour among eligible women.

Early adoption of BRCA1/2 testing: Who and why

Purpose: Relatively little is known about the characteristics of women who chose to undergo BRCA1/2 testing soon after testing became available, including how they became aware of and chose to pursue testing. Diffusion of innovation theory states that acceptance of an innovation is a function of the potential adopter’s value for innovation and perceptions of the compatibility, complexity, and relative advantage of the innovation. These factors may contribute to early uptake of BRCA1/2 testing. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of women who were “early adopters” of clinical BRCA1/2 testing and to determine whether diffusion theory explains variation in uptake of testing after participation in genetic counseling for BRCA1/2 testing.Methods: A retrospective cohort study of participants in genetic counseling for BRCA1/2 testing was conducted at a clinical program in a large academic health system. Measures included components of diffusion of innovation theory (participant’s value for innovation, i.e., “innovativeness,” and perceptions of the compatibility, complexity, and relative advantage of BRCA1/2 testing), characteristics of how the participant became aware of and sought BRCA1/2 testing, and decisions about testing after counseling.Results: From the 229 respondents, 71 (31%) had undergone testing at the time of the survey. Fifty-seven women (25%) had sought BRCA1/2 testing because a family member had breast or ovarian cancer and 37 (16%) because they had breast or ovarian cancer. Only 15 women (7%) reported seeking testing because of a physician’s recommendation. After multivariate adjustment, higher innovativeness and higher ratings of the compatibility of BRCA1/2 testing were associated with undergoing testing after counseling [relative risk (RR) 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–2.6]. However, ratings of the complexity or relative advantage of testing were not associated with testing decisions. Higher innovativeness was associated with being the first in the family to undergo testing (RR 4.85, 95% CI 1.6–14.9), becoming aware of BRCA1/2 testing through the media (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.0–2.4), and being aware of BRCA1/2 testing prior to counseling (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.1–1.4).Conclusions: The uptake of BRCA1/2 testing among women undergoing genetic counseling was associated with innovative characteristics of the participant and the perceived compatibility of the test with existing values and needs, but not with the complexity or relative advantage of the test. Most “early adopters” had heard of BRCA1/2 testing from a source other than their physician and had sought testing because of a personal or family member’s cancer diagnosis. These findings can inform predictions surrounding the introduction of future genetic susceptibility tests and strategies for guiding the further diffusion of BRCA1/2 testing.

DNA-based screening and personal health: a points to consider statement for individuals and health-care providers from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)

DNA-based screening and personal health: a points to consider statement for individuals and health-care providers from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)

The Screen Project: Guided Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer Susceptibility in Canada.

Simple SummaryThe Screen Project was initiated in 2017 to offer BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic screening to all Canadians over the age of 18 who wish to know their mutation status. Study subjects registered online and were sent a saliva sample kit. Of the 1269 tested individuals between March 2017 and January 2019, 30 (2.4%) had a pathogenic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (20 women and 10 men). Seventy-five percent of the female mutation carriers underwent a bilateral mastectomy and/or salpingo-oophorectomy within a year of receiving a positive result. The study results endorse a model where genetic testing is offered directly to the consumer via a home-delivered kit and a saliva sample, and some clinical guidance for those with positive test results. We believe that testing has substantial benefits, and therefore, we would like to expand testing to as many eligible women as possible.There is limited information of the outcomes of direct-to-consumer testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. The Screen Project was initiated in 2017 to offer BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic screening to all Canadians over the age of 18 who wish to know their mutation status. Patients enrolled in the study from 2017 to 2019 and were followed for one year after the receipt of a genetic test result. Study subjects registered online and were sent a saliva sample kit, which was shipped to the reference laboratory. Pre-test genetic counselling and counselling for mutation-negative subjects was optional and at the individual’s discretion. There were 1269 tested individuals between March 2017 and January 2019. A total of 1157 (93%) were women and 87 (7%) were men. Sixty-six percent had a first- or second-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer. Of the 1269 tested individuals, 30 (2.4%) had a pathogenic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (20 women and 10 men). Seventy-five percent of the female mutation carriers underwent a bilateral mastectomy and/or salpingo-oophorectomy within a year of receiving a positive result. Genetic counselling was available at no cost to all participants but was requested by only 5% of the non-carriers. The study subjects expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the process.

OP053 - The Screen Project: guided direct-to-consumer genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility in Canada

There is limited information of the outcomes of direct-to-consumer testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. The Screen Project was initiated in 2017 to offer BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic screening to all Canadians over the age of 18 who wish to know their mutation status. Patients enrolled in the study from 2017 to 2019 and were followed for one year after the receipt of a genetic test result. Study subjects registered online and were sent a saliva sample kit, which was shipped to the reference laboratory. Pre-test genetic counselling and counselling for mutation-negative subjects was optional and at the individual’s discretion. There were 1269 tested individuals between March 2017 and January 2019. A total of 1157 (93%) were women and 87 (7%) were men. Sixty-six percent had a first- or second-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer. Of the 1269 tested individuals, 30 (2.4%) had a pathogenic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (20 women and 10 men). Seventy-five percent of the female mutation carriers underwent a bilateral mastectomy and/or salpingo-oophorectomy within a year of receiving a positive result. Genetic counselling was available at no cost to all participants but was requested by only 5% of the non-carriers. The study subjects expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the process.

P2GT: Fine-Grained Genomic Data Access Control With Privacy-Preserving Testing in Cloud Computing.

With the rapid development of bioinformatics and the availability of genetic sequencing technologies, genomic data has been used to facilitate personalized medicine. Cloud computing, features as low cost, rich storage and rapid processing can precisely respond to the challenges brought by the emergence of massive genomic data. Considering the security of cloud platform and the privacy of genomic data, we first introduce P2GT which utilizes key-policy attribute-based encryption to realize genomic data access control with unbounded attributes, and employs equality test algorithm to achieve personalized medicine test by matching digitized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) directly on the users' ciphertext without encrypting multiple times. We then propose an enhanced scheme P2GT+, which adopts identity-based encryption with equality test supporting flexible joint authorization to realize privacy-preserving paternity test, genetic compatibility test and disease susceptibility test over the encrypted SNPs with P2GT. We prove the security of proposed schemes and conduct extensive experiments with the 1,000 Genomes dataset. The results show that P2GT and P2GT+ are practical and scalable enough to meet the privacy-preserving and authorized genetic testing requirements in cloud computing.

Abstract PS8-24: Clinical and pathologic characteristics of Turkish breast cancer (BC) patients screened with BRCA1, BRCA2 or 26 - gene inherited cancer panel testing: Single institution experience

Abstract Background: BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are responsible for two thirds of hereditary BC. Germline genetic testing for BC susceptibility has evolved from a single-gene analysis to a multigene panel testing. Identification of a pathogenic mutation in BRCA and other panel represent a therapeutic opportunity today. Methods: We aimed to investigate clinical and pathologic characteristics of BC patients who were referred to our center between 2011-2019 and underwent BRCA1, BRCA2 or 26-gene inherited cancer panel testing based on NCCN criteria for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer testing. We analyzed the frequency of pathogenic mutations and its relationship with clinical and pathologic factors. Results: A total of 576 patients were identified. Among them 356 (63%) had their test in our university, 218 (38%) patients had their test at other centers. Sixty-six % (n:376) of patients had panel testing, 34% had only BRCA 1-2 mutation test. Median age was 42(22-87) and 5 patients were male. Ten % of patients had metastatic disease, 70% had early BC and 20% had locally advanced stage at the time of referral. The indication for genetic testing was family history in 169 (29%) patients, triple negative (TN) subtype in 100 (17%) patients and age &amp;lt;45 years in 260 (45%) patients. Seventy-nine % of patients were premenopausal. A total of 114 (19%) patients had pathogenic mutations. The most commonly mutated genes were BRCA1 (n:38, 6%), BRCA2 (n:35, 6%), ATM (n:6), p53 (n:5), PALB2 (n:5), CHEK2 (n:5). Six patients had more than one pathogenic mutation. Among patients with pathogenic mutations 58% had ER positive, 27% had TN and 15 % had Her-2 positive disease. Thirty-four % of patients with TN tumors have pathogenic mutations, 23% of patients with TN tumors had BRCA mutations. TP53, PALB2 and CHEK2 mutations were more frequent in HR positive disease. Age &amp;lt;35 (p:0.002), triple negative subtype (p: 0.005) and menopausal status (p:0.001) were significantly associated with having pathogenic mutations in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Two thirds of BC patients &amp;lt;35 years-old and one third of patients with TN tumors have pathogenic germline mutations in BC predisposing genes when they were screened in line with NCCN criteria. Citation Format: Aysun Isiklar, Aykut Soyder, Kanay Yararbas, Cumhur Ekmekci, Hulya Yazici, Gul Basaran. Clinical and pathologic characteristics of Turkish breast cancer (BC) patients screened with BRCA1, BRCA2 or 26 - gene inherited cancer panel testing: Single institution experience [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS8-24.

Attitudes towards genetic susceptibility testing for Alzheimer’s disease dementia in cognitively normal adults: A survey study

AbstractBackgroundInterest in Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease dementia (AD) is increasing. Even though ApoE‐status is more often being disclosed to cognitively normal adults in clinical trials and services like 23andMe are growing, disclosure in the context of individualized risk profiling is not yet common practice. Our objective was to examine attitudes towards genetic susceptibility testing for AD in a sample of Dutch cognitively normal adults.MethodAn online survey was completed by 428 cognitively normal respondents (response rate 29%) between the age of 50 and 75 years from the Dutch Brain Research Registry (Hersenonderzoek.nl). The survey assessed interest in participating in research studies about genetic testing and disclosure, perceptions of its reasons and possible impact and degree of control respondents want in deciding to test their genetic risk (Control Preferences Scale). Furthermore, we randomly presented three fictional scenarios to assess interest in genetic risk disclosure for different risks of AD (10, 30 and 50%).ResultThe majority of respondents was interested in genetic risk disclosure (80%) and preferred to decide themselves whether to receive their genetic risk (73%) rather than leaving this decision to a health care professional. The most commonly endorsed reason for testing was contributing to scientific research (94%). When presented with specific scenarios, most respondents were still interested in their genetic risk, regardless of the presented risk (73‐79%). The three most important consequences indicated were: 1) sharing their genetic risk with their close environment (77‐89%), 2) participating in a medication trial (79‐87%) and 3) making long‐term arrangements, e.g. for retirement and health care (69‐82%). More than half of the respondents (50‐67%) would probably adjust their lifestyle, e.g. exercise more or eat healthier.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the majority of respondents wants to be informed about their genetic risk for AD and wants to make this decision themselves. The main reason for interest in testing is contributing to scientific research. Future studies should examine the best way to disclose genetic risk for AD by informing participants carefully and closely looking at the possible impact, especially in the context of future individualized risk profiling.

Evaluating Web-Based Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests for Cancer Susceptibility.

Recent years have seen direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing for cancer susceptibility change dramatically. For one, a new model now dominates the market where tests are advertised to consumers but ordered by physicians. For another, many of today's tests are distinguished from earlier DTC offerings for cancer susceptibility by their scope and potential clinical significance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of available DTC genetic tests for cancer susceptibility and identifies aspects of the DTC testing process that could affect consumers' ability to make informed decisions about testing and understand their results. First, we provide an overview of each DTC genetic test for cancer susceptibility that includes information about cost; who orders it; whether variants of uncertain significance are returned; availability of genetic counseling; intended users; management of variant reclassifications; whether it is characterized as diagnostic, actionable, and clinically valid; molecular technique used; and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments/College of American Pathologists status. Second, we identify six aspects of the testing process that could affect consumers' ability to make informed decisions about testing and interpret their results: How companies use certain terms (eg, medical grade or clinical grade); how companies use consumers' health information during the ordering process; the extent of genetic counseling provided by companies; companies' procedures for returning results; the role of company-provided ordering physicians; and companies' procedures for communicating variant reclassifications. On the basis of our review of companies' Web sites, we believe that consumers would benefit from more information about these aspects of testing. Providing this information would help consumers make informed decisions about whether to use a particular DTC genetic testing service and, should they choose to pursue testing, understand the implications and limitations of their results.

Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a report of cosmopolitan microbial migration and an analysis of best management practices

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) control is a primary global health priority but the goal to eliminate TB is being threatened by the increase in incidence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). With this series of seven MDR-TB cases in migrant patients with identical Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains we aim to illustrate the challenges encountered during therapy and follow-up: language barriers, access to care for migrant patients, depression due to isolation, adverse reactions to the treatment, management of pediatric TB, further contact tracing. We also discuss best practices for the management of complex MDR-TB cases in settings with low overall TB incidence focusing on modern diagnostic assays and an individualized and an interdisciplinary therapeutic approach.MethodsWe describe a case series of seven consecutively diagnosed MDR-TB patients, six of them treated at our tertiary care hospital between May 2018 and March 2020. Epidemiologic data was gained by semi-structured patient interviews and reconstruction of the migration route. The origin of the cluster was confirmed by genotyping of the TB-strains.ResultsSix related patients were diagnosed with pulmonary MDR-TB between May and August 2018. All had a positive Interferon-Gamma-Release Assay (IGRA), in five patients sputum microscopy was positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). The genetic and phenotypical drug susceptibility test did not match with MDR-TB strains from an East-African origin. The index patient was identified through genetical fingerprinting. By changing the therapy to a modern MDR-TB regime and using an interdisciplinary and culture-sensitive approach, all patients improved clinically and radiologically.ConclusionHuman migration plays an important role for the global spread of MDR-TB in low incidence countries. Early case detection and adequate treatment are key to prevention of outbreaks. Especially language barriers and complex migration routes make genotyping of TB-strains a crucial tool to identify cases clusters, the potential index patient and transmission dynamics. We are fortunate enough to experience times in which new TB-antibiotics were made available and in which molecular assays revolutionized TB-diagnostics. We need to take advantage of that and develop personalized therapies for patients suffering from drug resistant TB.