Utilization of Germline and Somatic Testing in the Management of Hereditary Breast Cancer
Germline genetic testing and somatic (tumor) testing play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment. Hereditary breast cancer accounts for 5-10% of breast cancer and identifying a pathogenic variant in cancer predisposition gene can have implications on the treatment of the breast cancer as well as future cancer screening and prevention strategies. Additionally, given the increase in somatic (tumor) testing across all cancer types, incidental findings of potential germline pathogenic variants should be confirmed with dedicated germline testing so that patients and family members can receive evidence-based cancer risk management strategies.
