BRCA Testing Underused in Women With Ovarian Cancer
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Despite unequivocal recommendations for universal germline BRCA testing in women with ovarian cancer, an analysis of a large commercial insurance database between 2008 and 2018 found that only about one third (33.9%) of such patients had such screening. The findings were reported in a research letter published January 11 in JAMA Network Open. About 15% of ovarian cancers harbor gBRCA variations, and this has important implications for treatment, including increased sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors and improved survival, the authors explain. Guidelines have recommended universal testing since 2010.
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@anaika The analysis showed that only 1220 women (33.9%) were tested for germline BRCA during the study period, although the testing rates improved over the years from 14.7% in 2008 to 46.4% in 2018. There was also an improvement in timing from a median of 280 days after the first chemotherapy claim in 2008 down to a median of 72.5 days in 2018.