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Several ARUP Consult® topics discuss in detail when germline testing for hereditary cancer syndromes should be considered to help clinicians order the right test at the right time.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that over two million people in the United States were diagnosed with cancer in 2024, and nearly 70% of them will survive five years or more after diagnosis. February is National Cancer Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and celebrate achievements in cancer detection and treatment. ARUP Consult®, a free source of expert guidance in laboratory testing, has timely resources on Hereditary Cancer Germline Genetic Testing to help clinicians aid in the fight against hereditary cancer.
Inherited cancer syndromes are genetic conditions that predispose individuals to certain types of cancer. These syndromes are caused by inherited mutations in specific genes. Identifying these genetic mutations through germline genetic testing is crucial for early detection, prevention, and effective management of care.
ARUP Laboratories offers a comprehensive hereditary cancer suite, which uses next generation sequencing to detect clinically relevant gene variants for many types of cancer and conditions. Initial testing may involve a multigene panel or single gene testing, depending on the differential diagnosis. For family members of individuals with a known pathogenic variant, targeted testing for that familial variant is recommended.
ARUP Consult topics, which discuss in detail when germline genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes should be considered, include Breast Cancer Biomarkers, Lynch Syndrome - Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasias, Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers, Prostate Cancer, Pheochromocytoma – Paraganglioma, and more. Many of these topics also include related algorithms to help clinicians order the right test at the right time.
A free educational resource, ARUP Consult is funded entirely by ARUP Laboratories. ARUP medical directors, who are active faculty members at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology, review and contribute to the content on ARUP Consult.
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Learn more about ARUP’s Hereditary Cancer Testing Suite here.
Bonnie Stray, bonnie.stray@aruplab.com
