Genomic Testing: A Struggle for Oncologists

Karyn Hede

Should doctors present genomics results to patients—and if so, how? Oncologists at Boston’s Dana–Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) surveyed about their participation in a broad genomic screening program designed to guide treatment expressed divergent views about using the technology.

Many faculty oncologists there felt unqualified to serve as genetic counselors. Further showing the divide, 42% of DFCI providers advocated sharing uncertain genomic test results with patients, even though the research protocol calls for withholding such findings. This variation “nicely mirrors a debate happening nationally and internationally around the return of research results, as well as clinical results,” said Stacy Gray, M.D., a medical oncologist and the study’s lead investigator. “So I was not surprised that we saw such a range of opinions because this is an area where the field is not entirely settled. I think that over time we will probably develop some consensus, but we aren’t there yet.”

The Journal of Clinical Oncology study describing the survey, “Physicians’ Attitudes About Multiplex Tumor …

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