Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration Is Key Throughout a Patient’s Journey

Multidisciplinary team collaboration can help streamline the testing process.1 Timely return of BRCA mutation test results is critical because these results can impact treatment decisions.2,3

Recommendations for addressing common delays in the testing process and reducing turnaround time

Role of the multidisciplinary team in NSCLC
Role of the multidisciplinary team in NSCLC
Meet with your multidisciplinary team to set up a standard testing protocol
Meet with your multidisciplinary team to set up a standard testing protocol

By streamlining the testing process, you may be able to reduce the time between initial counseling and return of results to ≈3 to 5 weeks.2,6,11

Collaboration with a genetic counselor

BRCA mutation testing, treatment, and patient counseling in OC requires communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team, including the increasingly important role of the genetic counselor.10,12,13

Collaboration with a genetic counselor
  • Genetic counselors are experts with training in medicine, genetics, laboratory testing, and counseling10
  • Studies have shown that genetic counseling is beneficial. Genetic counseling can improve accuracy in interpreting results, assessing risk, and choosing an appropriate treatment. Counseling can also reduce psychological distress for patients and their families10

Collaboration within the multidisciplinary team, including genetic counselors, is vital for making informed and appropriate treatment decisions.5,10,12,13

BRCA, breast cancer susceptibility gene; OC, ovarian cancer.

References: 1. Leyland-Jones BR et al. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(34):5638-5644. 2. Capoluongo E et al. Semin Oncol. 2017;44(3):187-197. 3. George A et al. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2017;14(5):284-296. 4. National Institutes of Health. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/risk-assessment-pdq. Updated June 13, 2018. Accessed October 26, 2018. 5. Hoogerbrugge N et al. Eur J Hum Genet. 2016;24(suppl 1):S19-S26. 6. Colombo N et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(13):1300-1307. 7. National Collaborating Centre for Cancer. Ovarian Cancer: The Recognition and Initial Management of Ovarian Cancer. Cardiff, UK: National Collaborating Centre for Cancer; 2011. 8. Robson ME et al. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(31):3660-3667. 9. Vergote I et al. Eur J Cancer. 2016;69:127-134. 10. Stanislaw C et al. Cancer Biol Med. 2016;13(1):55-67. 11. Yadav S et al. Hered Cancer Clin Pract. 2017;15:11. 12. Lancaster JM et al; SGO Clinical Practice Committee. Gynecol Oncol. 2015;136(1):3-7. 13. Eccles DM et al; ENIGMA Clinical Working Group. Ann Oncol. 2015;26(10):2057-2065.

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