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Multiple-Gene Panels and the Future of Genetic Testing

  • Risk, Prevention, and Screening (TA Patel, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Clinical cancer risk assessment is advancing from a past of single-gene testing toward a future of whole-genome sequencing. Cancer-focused panels of 6 to >100 genes have recently emerged into oncology practice, approximately doubling the number of patients for whom a genetic diagnosis can be made. Areas of uncertainty include the degree of cancer risk associated with mutations in specific genes on multiple-gene panels, and the optimal use of cancer risk-reducing interventions based on panel testing results. Clinician expertise is required for appropriate selection and interpretation of multiple-gene panels, and well-designed clinical trials will be essential to realize the full potential of new sequencing technologies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Jan Weimer Junior Faculty Chair in Breast Cancer Research and the Suzanne Pride Bryan Breast Cancer Research Fund at Stanford University (to A.W.K.) and the Breast Cancer Research Fund (to J.M.F.). A.W.K. and J.M.F. have received research funding from Myriad Genetics and Invitae.

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Conflict of Interest

Allison W. Kurian and James M. Ford have received research funding from Myriad Genetics and Invitae.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Correspondence to Allison W. Kurian.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Risk, Prevention, and Screening

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Kurian, A.W., Ford, J.M. Multiple-Gene Panels and the Future of Genetic Testing. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 7, 98–104 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-015-0181-4

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