Practical considerations in the delivery of genetic counseling and testing services for inherited cancer predisposition

Abstract

Many professional entities endorse the need to deliver cancer genetics risk assessment (CGRA) services through a multidisciplinary team that includes trained genetics professionals. However, market forces, a lack of regulation of genetic testing, patent laws, cost barriers, and a limited workforce in genetics have resulted in an increasing number of community practitioners who order and interpret genetic testing. In addition, varying state-level laws and licensure requirements for genetic counselors may contribute to the nonuniform delivery of CGRA services across the United States. Those who perform genetic testing without having adequate training or expertise may incur liability risks. Moreover, the patient might not enjoy the maximum benefit of testing at the hands of an inadequately trained individual. In the setting of a limited number of professional who are trained in CGRA and a dearth of education and training resources, it is a challenge to integrate genetic testing services into clinical care. With advances in genomics and the implementation of personalized medicine, the problem will only be magnified, and it is critical that there are more opportunities for high quality education and training in clinical cancer genetics free of commercial bias. Successful strategies for delivering comprehensive CGRA services include academic-community partnerships that focus on collaboration with nongenetics providers or the inclusion of a genetics professional in the community setting as part of multidisciplinary patient care. These approaches can leverage the expertise of genetics professionals while allowing patients to remain in their community and enjoy better access to resources for long-term follow-up care.