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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Women with BRCA1/2 mutations are over 7x more likely to undergo risk-reducing mastectomy and ovary removal than those with less-characterized gene variants, a new study finds. But pancreatic screening — recommended for some high-risk patients — remains strikingly underused across the board, with fewer than 11% of eligible women getting screened within a year of genetic testing.
A large cross-sectional study of nearly 4,000 women with pathogenic variants (PVs) in breast cancer susceptibility genes found that those carrying BRCA1/2 mutations were dramatically more likely to pursue preventive surgeries compared to women with gene variants lacking sufficient clinical evidence to guide intervention. The study, published in JCO Precision Oncology, analyzed real-world healthcare claims data from women who underwent germline panel testing at a US commercial lab between 2015 and 2023.
The findings highlight a clear hierarchy in how genetic results translate to action — but also reveal a significant gap in pancreatic cancer surveillance, even among those at elevated risk.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As genetic panel testing becomes more common, understanding how results drive — or fail to drive — clinical action is critical. The persistent underuse of pancreatic screening signals a gap that clinicians and health systems need to address, particularly for patients who meet eligibility criteria.
