Psychological impact of multi-gene cancer panel testing in patients with a clinical suspicion of hereditary cancer across Spain.

Esteban I1,2, Vilaró M3, Adrover E4, Angulo N5, Carrasco E1, Gadea N6, Sánchez A7, Ocaña T7, Llort G8, Jover R9, Cubiella J10, Servitja S11, Herráiz M12, Cid L13, Martínez S14, Oruezábal-Moreno MJ15, Garau I16, Khorrami S17, Herreros de Tejada A18, Morales R19, Cano JM20, Serrano R21, López-Ceballos MH22, González-Santiago S22, Juan-Fita MJ23, Alonso-Cerezo C24, Casas A25, Graña-Suarez B26, Teulé A27, Alba E28, Antón A29, Guillén-Ponce C30, Sánchez-Heras AB31, Alés-Martínez JE32, Brunet J33, Balaguer F7, Balmaña J1,2,6.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Patients' psychological reactions to multi-gene cancer panel testing might differ compared with the single-gene testing reactions due to the complexity and uncertainty associated with the different possible results. Understanding patients' preferences and psychological impact of multi-gene panel testing is important to adapt the genetic counselling model.

METHODS:

One hundred and eighty-seven unrelated patients with clinical suspicion of hereditary cancer undergoing a 25-gene panel test completed questionnaires after pre-test genetic counseling and at one week, three months and twelve months after results to elicit their preferences regarding results disclosure and to measure their cancer worry and testing-specific distress and uncertainty.

RESULTS:

A pathogenic variant was identified in 38 patients (34 high penetrance and 4 moderate penetrance variants) and 54 patients had at least one VUS. Overall, cancer panel testing was not associated with an increase in cancer worry after results disclosure (p value=0.87). Twelve months after results, carriers of a moderate penetrance variant had higher distress and uncertainty scores compared to carriers of high penetrance variants. Cancer worry prior to genetic testing predicted genetic testing specific distress after results, especially at long-term (p value<0.001). The majority of patients reported the wish to know all genetic results.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results suggest that patients can psychologically cope with cancer panel testing, but distress and uncertainty observed in carriers of moderate penetrance cancer variants in this cohort warrants further research.