Age at diagnosis may trump family history in driving BRCA testing in a population of breast cancer patients.

Vig H, McCarthy AM, Liao K, Bristol Demeter M, Fredericks T, Armstrong K.

Source

Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Abstract

Background:Standard BRCA genetic testing criteria include young age of diagnosis, family history, and Jewish ancestry. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of these criteria on BRCA test utilization in breast cancer patients. Methods:Breast cancer patients aged 18-64yrs living in Pennsylvania in 2007 completed a survey on family history of breast and ovarian cancer and BRCA testing (N=2213). Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds of BRCA testing by patient characteristics, and predicted probabilities of testing were calculated for several clinical scenarios. Results:Young age at diagnosis (<50 1="" 3.85-6.00="" 50="" 95="" a="" accurately="" age="" among="" an="" ancestry="" and="" are="" as="" ascertaining="" associated="" at="" be="" before="" benefit="" both="" brca="" breast="" cancer="" ci:="" compared="" conclusions:age="" criterion="" degree="" despite="" detailed="" diagnosed="" diagnosis="" electronic="" estimate="" family="" first="" five="" for="" from="" had="" having="" higher="" history="" however="" identify="" impact:robust="" intervention.="" jewish="" markedly="" maternal="" may="" medical="" methods="" more="" mutation="" nearly="" needed="" no="" non-jewish="" odds="" of="" older="" or="" p="" paternal="" patient="" patients="" predicted="" predictive="" prevalence="" probability="" receiving="" records="" relative="" similar="" specific="" strongly="" such="" targeted="" testing.="" testing="" than="" that="" the="" through="" times="" to="" underutilized="" was="" with="" women="" young="" yrs.="">