Genetic testing has moved beyond academic centers to being reflected in clinical guidelines adopted by a growing number of clinicians
During a recent webinar hosted by Becker’s Healthcare, leaders from Providence’s Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle, Labcorp, and Gene Pool Media shared perspectives on embedding genetics into everyday care and strategies to expand precision medicine at scale.
Here are four key takeaways from their discussion:
1. Transforming cancer care
Genetic testing has moved beyond academic centers to being reflected in clinical guidelines adopted by a growing number of clinicians. Marianne Dubard-Gault, MD, medical director of Cancer Genetics & High-risk Services at Swedish Cancer Institute, routinely offers genetic testing to patients newly diagnosed with breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.
The presence of specific biomarkers or variants in a tumor can affect the treatment sequence or type of therapy a patient receives.
“Targeted therapy is possible because we identified the genetic predisposition or the biomarker in the blood or the tumor, and we were able to tailor and prescribe medication developed for that particular thing and really give people outcomes that we haven’t seen in the past,” said. Dr. Dubard-Gault.
Read more: Becker’s Hospital Review
