(UroToday.com) National Cancer Comprehensive Network guidelines have relatively recently changed to recommend germline genetic testing for patients with high-risk prostate cancer. This general category includes patients with distant or nodal metastatic disease, Gleason 8 primary tumors or higher, or PSA greater than 20 ng/mL. In addition to potentially triggering cascade testing and altered cancer screening for first degree family members, certain germline alterations in homologous recombination repair genes are indications for using the PARP inhibitors Olaparib or rucaparib. As may be expected with relatively new guidelines, newer oncologists in academic practice setting, especially those specializing in prostate cancer, have been shown to be more likely to offer appropriate germline testing.1 In this poster, Emily Moody and colleagues presented results from virtual educational presentations given to nurse navigators, urologist, and medical oncologists throughout a large community-based healthcare system. Prostate cancer patient referral data for germline testing was measured six months prior to and after the presentations, and surveys were distributed to assess learner understanding after each session.
Self-reported provider confidence and understanding of referral practices improved for both nurse navigators and physicians after the educational presentation. Additionally, after these educational sessions, the number of referrals for prostate cancer patients to genetics increased 118%. While encouraging, this likely does not account for all patients who should undergo germline testing. Further work will clarify the impact of provider education on referrals relative to the total eligible population, as well as explore the utility of point of care testing at initial consults.
Presented By: Emily Moody, CGC, Cancer Genetic Counselor at Intermountain Healthcare, Utah
Written By: Alok K. Tewari, MD, PhD, medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, @aloktewar on Twitter during the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Cancers Symposium, Thursday Feb 17 – Saturday Feb 19, 2022
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