BC Familial Pancreatic Cancer Program-Improving access to germline testing at time of diagnosis

Hereditary factors are identified in 10-15% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Of the estimated 800 new diagnoses of pancreatic cancer in BC each year, only 20% are referred for a consultation to the provincial hereditary cancer program (HCP). Mainstream testing holds promise for personalized oncologic care and may reduce the significant variability in testing rates based on patient geography and ethnicity.
We will conduct surveys to gain understanding of why providers choose not to refer patients or offer mainstream testing. We will provide targeted training to provider and patients on the benefits and uses of genetic testing. We will compare new pathology diagnoses to testing rates over the study period and explore novel care delivery pathways, including a direct patient contact model that informs patients about test availability.
This research program will foster greater collaborations with health care providers and increase knowledge and use of genetic testing in BC. We envision through this research program, a provincial framework/registry for genetic assessment of PDAC at point of diagnosis.