Most patients with cancer are not undergoing germline genetic testing.

A study published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians found that most patients with cancer do not undergo germline genetic testing to determine if their cancer may be associated with an inherited gene mutation. The study analyzed data from patients in California and Georgia and found that non-Hispanic White patients with male breast cancer, female breast cancer, or ovarian cancer were the most likely to undergo testing, while Black/African American patients were the least likely. The study also revealed an increase in testing over time, with pancreatic cancer patients showing the greatest increase. The authors emphasized the importance of clinicians identifying and testing patients at risk for genetic alterations that increase cancer risk. [Extracted from the article]