At-home genetic cancer tests are gaining popularity, but experts warn of hidden risks. The FDA recently approved a new panel for hereditary cancers that can be taken without a doctor's supervision. While convenient, this raises concerns about the lack of guidance in interpreting results. The discussion emphasizes the crucial role of genetic counseling to help patients navigate the complexities of their test outcomes. Without proper support, results could lead to unnecessary anxiety or misinterpretation.
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insights INSIGHT
At-Home Genetic Testing Concerns
At-home genetic tests offer convenience but lack professional guidance, raising concerns among experts.
The FDA's approval of the Invitae Common Hereditary Cancers Panel allows direct-to-consumer testing, bypassing healthcare providers.
insights INSIGHT
Challenges of At-Home Testing
At-home tests can detect "variants of uncertain significance," causing anxiety and uninformed decisions.
Testing minors without medical oversight raises ethical concerns and may lead to missed follow-up care.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Importance of Genetic Counseling
Seek genetic counseling to interpret results and make informed decisions about preventative care.
Medical supervision ensures proper guidance and proactive decisions based on test results.
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Would you take a test to find out your cancer risk? At-home genetic testing makes it easy, but experts warn that these tests may create more harm than good.
A New Approach to Genetic Testing
Genetic testing has traditionally been performed under the supervision of healthcare providers, with genetic counseling to help patients navigate their results. This approach ensures that individuals receive proper guidance, reducing the emotional and practical challenges of interpreting complex genetic information.
In September 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new test called the Invitae Common Hereditary Cancers Panel. This test checks for changes in 48 genes linked to hereditary cancers, including breast, ovarian, and Lynch syndrome-related cancers. What makes it different is that it can be ordered online and taken at home with no doctor required.
While the convenience of these tests is appealing, health experts have raised serious concerns. An editorial titled “Pitfalls and Perils from FDA-Approved Germ-line Cancer Predisposition Tests,” authored by Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry, Editor-in-Chief of Oncotarget, and Dr. Eli Y. Adashi, both from Brown University, highlights the potential risks of using these tests without professional guidance.
Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2025/01/03/the-hidden-risks-of-at-home-genetic-cancer-tests/
Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28677
Correspondence to - Wafik S. El-Deiry - wafik@brown.edu
Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjKpiBNDWHo
Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28677
Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/
Keywords - cancer, cancer predisposition, germline, marketing authorization, hereditary cancer, direct to consumer
About Oncotarget
Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.
Oncotarget is indexed and archived by PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, META (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) (2018-2022), and Dimensions (Digital Science).
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