Germline and somatic testing for  in prostate cancer can improve outcomes and promote early detection and prevention, yet many patients are not aware of testing and the impact it can have on treatment options. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with David Gill, MD, medical oncologist at Intermountain Healthcare’s Intermountain Cancer Center and Lindsey Byrne, MS, LCGC, licensed certified genetic counselor at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, who discuss how genetic counselors and increased patient education can help cancer programs close the practice gap and promote guideline-concordant testing among patients diagnosed with prostate cancer.  

“I’d really advocate—even in your patients with a negative NGS panel—please still consider getting germline testing in those patients.” –David Gill, MD

“We know that individuals, yes, they’re dealing with a diagnosis of cancer, but the first thing people say to me when I sit down with them is, ‘All right, I have this figured out, but what does this mean for my family?’ They’re really worried about their family, and that’s where our focus is, to help take care of that.”—Lindsey Byrne, MS, LCGC

David Gill, MD 

Medical Oncologist  

Intermountain Healthcare - Intermountain Cancer Center  

Salt Lake City, Utah 

Lindsey Byrne, MS, LCGC 

Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor 

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James

Columbus, Ohio 

This episode was developed in connection with the ACCC education program Germline and Somatic Testing for Mutations to Optimize Outcomes in Metastatic Prostate Cancer and is supported by AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer.

Resources:

Germline and Somatic Testing for Mutations to Optimize Outcomes in Metastatic Prostate Cancer - ACCC

Abstract: Homologous recombination repair gene mutation (HRRm) testing patterns and treatment selection from a real-world cohort of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) 

Abstract: Utilization of genetic counseling and testing for patients with prostate cancer following integration of a genetic counselor into a genitourinary cancer clinic