Work of Georgia Breast Cancer Genomic Health Consortium featured in Annals of Surgical Oncology
7/25/2014
A manuscript highlighting the work of the Georgia Breast Cancer Genomic Health Consortium was recently published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology. The Georgia Breast Cancer Genomic Health Consortium is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded cooperative agreement to the Georgia Department of Public Health, administered by Georgia CORE and in partnership with Emory University, Georgia State University, and the Morehouse School of Medicine. The Consortium works with public health centers to screen high-risk women for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and refer appropriate women for genetic counseling and testing based on guidelines developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
The abstract from the manuscript in the Annals of Surgical Oncology is below; click
here to access the article online.
Background. The Georgia Breast Cancer Genomic Health Consortium is a partnership created with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the Georgia Department of Public Health to reduce cancer disparities among high-risk minority women. The project addresses young women at increased risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome through outreach efforts.
Methods. The consortium provides education and collects surveillance data using the breast cancer genetics referral screening tool (B-RST) available at www.BreastCancerGeneScreen.org. The HBOC educational protocol was presented to
73 staff in 6 public health centers. Staff used the tool during the collection of medical history. Further family history assessments and testing for mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes were facilitated if appropriate.
Results. Data was collected from November 2012 through December 2013, including 2,159 screened women. The majority of patients identified as black/African American and were 18–49 years old. Also, 6.0 % (n = 130) had positive screens, and 60.9 % (n = 67) of the 110 patients who agreed to be contacted provided a detailed family history. A total of 47 patients (42.7 %) met National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines when family history was clarified. Fourteen (12.7 %) underwent genetic testing; 1 patient was positive for a BRCA2 mutation, and 1 patient was found to carry a variant of uncertain significance.
Conclusions. The introduction of genomics practicewithin public health departments has provided access to comprehensive cancer care for uninsured individuals. The successful implementation of the B-RST into public health centers demonstrates the opportunity for integration of HBOC screening into primary care practices.