Ovarian cancer and BRCA mutation genetic testing: the Brazilian reality

Introduction: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the leading causes of women’s cancer deaths worldwide. Recent clinical trials with PARP inhibitors showed promising therapeutic opportunities for OC patients. The assessment of BRCA mutation is well established as relevant in the prevention, early diagnost...

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Main Authors: Dalila Cunha de Oliveira, Luciana Lopes Mensor, Aniere Lima Banho, Guareide Carelli, Amanda Lins Acerbi, Andrea Paiva Gadelha Guimaraes, Angelica Nogueira-Rodrigues
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Clínica and Sociedade Brasileira de Radioterapia 2021-10-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.brazilianjournalofoncology.com.br/details/171/en-US/ovarian-cancer-and-brca-mutation-genetic-testing--the-brazilian-reality
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author Dalila Cunha de Oliveira
Luciana Lopes Mensor
Aniere Lima Banho
Guareide Carelli
Amanda Lins Acerbi
Andrea Paiva Gadelha Guimaraes
Angelica Nogueira-Rodrigues
author_facet Dalila Cunha de Oliveira
Luciana Lopes Mensor
Aniere Lima Banho
Guareide Carelli
Amanda Lins Acerbi
Andrea Paiva Gadelha Guimaraes
Angelica Nogueira-Rodrigues
author_sort Dalila Cunha de Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the leading causes of women’s cancer deaths worldwide. Recent clinical trials with PARP inhibitors showed promising therapeutic opportunities for OC patients. The assessment of BRCA mutation is well established as relevant in the prevention, early diagnostic, and family counseling for OC, and recently BRCA gene mutation was associated as a prognosis for PARP inhibitors treatment. In this scenario, the assessment of the patient’s mutation is proposed on Brazilian oncology guidelines and should be advised by health professionals that treat OC. Objectives: Inquire Brazilian oncologists about BRCA gene testing requesting time in the clinical practice for OC patients. Material and Methods: From May 2018 to June 2019, approximately 400 Brazilian oncologists received an online survey with questions related to the indication and challenges of BRCA gene testing. The survey was sent in 4 periods (waves); each wave received approximately 100 answers. Results: The compiled information showed that, on average, each oncologist treated 3 to 5 patients with ovarian cancer, they would recommend testing for three patients. Most respondents would indicate, BRCA testing during patients initial diagnostic period (w1=44%, w2=50%, w3=58%, and w4=64%). The sample of choice for testing would be blood/saliva assessing the germline mutational status (w1=35%, w2=43%, w3=46%, and w4=47%). The main reasons for oncologists to refrain from recommending BRCA testing were associated with cost and lack of reimbursement followed by lack of genetic counselors, among other factors. Conclusion: BRCA testing is restricted and not recommended for all ovarian cancer patients from the private health care sector. There is a lack of consensus on testing recommendations and discrepancies between coverage and national guidelines standardizing. There main difficulties associated with refraining testing were related to reimbursement and health plan coverage. Besides, the lack of genetic counseling was also pointed to as a bottleneck on oncologic patients’ multidisciplinary treatment.
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spelling doaj.art-2e5afe708cce465ba39cf5991d208eb22023-09-26T09:00:16ZengSociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Clínica and Sociedade Brasileira de RadioterapiaBrazilian Journal of Oncology2526-87322021-10-01170010.5935/2526-8732.20210024Ovarian cancer and BRCA mutation genetic testing: the Brazilian realityDalila Cunha de Oliveira0Luciana Lopes Mensor1Aniere Lima Banho2Guareide Carelli3Amanda Lins Acerbi4Andrea Paiva Gadelha Guimaraes5Angelica Nogueira-Rodrigues6Astrazeneca do Brasil, Medical - Cotia - Sao Paulo - BrazilAstrazeneca do Brasil, Market Access - Cotia - Sao Paulo - BrazilAstrazeneca do Brasil, Medical - Cotia - Sao Paulo - BrazilAstrazeneca do Brasil, Medical - Cotia - Sao Paulo - BrazilAstrazeneca do Brasil, Diagnostics - Cotia - Sao Paulo - BrazilA.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Medical Oncology - Sao Paulo - Sao Paulo - BrazilMinas Gerais Federal University, Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais - BrazilIntroduction: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the leading causes of women’s cancer deaths worldwide. Recent clinical trials with PARP inhibitors showed promising therapeutic opportunities for OC patients. The assessment of BRCA mutation is well established as relevant in the prevention, early diagnostic, and family counseling for OC, and recently BRCA gene mutation was associated as a prognosis for PARP inhibitors treatment. In this scenario, the assessment of the patient’s mutation is proposed on Brazilian oncology guidelines and should be advised by health professionals that treat OC. Objectives: Inquire Brazilian oncologists about BRCA gene testing requesting time in the clinical practice for OC patients. Material and Methods: From May 2018 to June 2019, approximately 400 Brazilian oncologists received an online survey with questions related to the indication and challenges of BRCA gene testing. The survey was sent in 4 periods (waves); each wave received approximately 100 answers. Results: The compiled information showed that, on average, each oncologist treated 3 to 5 patients with ovarian cancer, they would recommend testing for three patients. Most respondents would indicate, BRCA testing during patients initial diagnostic period (w1=44%, w2=50%, w3=58%, and w4=64%). The sample of choice for testing would be blood/saliva assessing the germline mutational status (w1=35%, w2=43%, w3=46%, and w4=47%). The main reasons for oncologists to refrain from recommending BRCA testing were associated with cost and lack of reimbursement followed by lack of genetic counselors, among other factors. Conclusion: BRCA testing is restricted and not recommended for all ovarian cancer patients from the private health care sector. There is a lack of consensus on testing recommendations and discrepancies between coverage and national guidelines standardizing. There main difficulties associated with refraining testing were related to reimbursement and health plan coverage. Besides, the lack of genetic counseling was also pointed to as a bottleneck on oncologic patients’ multidisciplinary treatment.http://www.brazilianjournalofoncology.com.br/details/171/en-US/ovarian-cancer-and-brca-mutation-genetic-testing--the-brazilian-realitymedical oncologyclinical medicineovarian diseasesgenetic counselinggenespractice guideline
spellingShingle Dalila Cunha de Oliveira
Luciana Lopes Mensor
Aniere Lima Banho
Guareide Carelli
Amanda Lins Acerbi
Andrea Paiva Gadelha Guimaraes
Angelica Nogueira-Rodrigues
Ovarian cancer and BRCA mutation genetic testing: the Brazilian reality
Brazilian Journal of Oncology
medical oncology
clinical medicine
ovarian diseases
genetic counseling
genes
practice guideline
title Ovarian cancer and BRCA mutation genetic testing: the Brazilian reality
title_full Ovarian cancer and BRCA mutation genetic testing: the Brazilian reality
title_fullStr Ovarian cancer and BRCA mutation genetic testing: the Brazilian reality
title_full_unstemmed Ovarian cancer and BRCA mutation genetic testing: the Brazilian reality
title_short Ovarian cancer and BRCA mutation genetic testing: the Brazilian reality
title_sort ovarian cancer and brca mutation genetic testing the brazilian reality
topic medical oncology
clinical medicine
ovarian diseases
genetic counseling
genes
practice guideline
url http://www.brazilianjournalofoncology.com.br/details/171/en-US/ovarian-cancer-and-brca-mutation-genetic-testing--the-brazilian-reality
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AT guareidecarelli ovariancancerandbrcamutationgenetictestingthebrazilianreality
AT amandalinsacerbi ovariancancerandbrcamutationgenetictestingthebrazilianreality
AT andreapaivagadelhaguimaraes ovariancancerandbrcamutationgenetictestingthebrazilianreality
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