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Familial Risk of Cancer and Knowledge and Use of Genetic Testing

  • Original Research
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ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Identification of genetic risk factors for common diseases, including cancer, highlights the importance of familial risk assessment. Little is known about patterns of familial cancer risk in the general population, or whether this risk is associated with knowledge and use of genetic testing.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the distribution of familial cancer risk and its associations with genetic testing in the United States.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of the 2005 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

PARTICIPANTS

31,428 adults who completed the NHIS Cancer Control Supplement.

MAIN MEASURES

Familial cancer risk was estimated based on the number of first-degree relatives with a breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (BRCA)- or a Lynch-associated cancer, age of onset (<50 or ≥50 years), and personal history of any cancer. Outcomes included having heard of genetic testing, discussed genetic testing with a physician, been advised by a physician to have testing, and received genetic testing.

KEY RESULTS

Most adults (84.5%) had no family history of BRCA- or Lynch syndrome-associated cancer; 12.9% had a single first-degree relative (5.3% with early onset); and 2.7% had ≥2 first-degree relatives. Although 40.2% of adults had heard of genetic testing for cancer risk, only 5.6% of these individuals had discussed testing with a physician, and of these 36.9% were advised to be tested. Overall, only 1.4% of adults who had heard of genetic testing received a test. Familial risk was associated with higher rates of testing; 49.5% of participants in the highest risk group had heard of testing, of those 14.8% had discussed it with their physician, and 4.5% had received genetic testing.

CONCLUSIONS

These nationally representative data provide estimates of the prevalence of familial cancer risk in the US and suggest that information about genetic testing is not reaching many at higher risk of inherited cancer.

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Acknowledgements

This research was conducted with support from Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (NIH Grant no. 1 UL1 RR 025758-01 and financial contributions from participating institutions) and the American Cancer Society (RSGT-08-006-01-CPHPS). The funding organizations were not involved in the design, conduct of the study, interpretation of the data, or the preparation of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

Drs. Baer, Murray, and Ms. Brawarsky have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Dr. Haas has received grant funding from the Aetna Foundation for a project examining utilization of personalized tests and treatments for breast cancer and also received grant support from a research grant from Pfizer for a grant on adverse drug event reporting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 1620 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02120, USA

    Heather J. Baer ScD, Phyllis Brawarsky MPH & Jennifer S. Haas MD, MSPH

  2. Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Heather J. Baer ScD & Jennifer S. Haas MD, MSPH

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Heather J. Baer ScD

  4. Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Michael F. Murray MD

  5. Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Jennifer S. Haas MD, MSPH

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  1. Heather J. Baer ScD
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  2. Phyllis Brawarsky MPH
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  3. Michael F. Murray MD
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  4. Jennifer S. Haas MD, MSPH
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Correspondence to Jennifer S. Haas MD, MSPH.

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Baer, H.J., Brawarsky, P., Murray, M.F. et al. Familial Risk of Cancer and Knowledge and Use of Genetic Testing. J GEN INTERN MED 25, 717–724 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1334-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1334-9

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