- New data to be presented by Invitae at 2022
ASCO Annual Meeting show importance of genetic testing for all
cancer patients -
SAN
FRANCISCO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae
(NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced
eight studies to be presented at the 2022 American Society of
Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held in Chicago from June 3-7,
2022. While the research covers a variety of cancer types,
stages and patient demographics, all of the data underscore the
importance of universal genetic testing to improve health outcomes
for all cancer patients.
Inherited genes impact risk for developing melanoma
Melanoma—the most frequent cause of skin cancer-related
deaths—is often perceived as a cancer caused by environmental
factors. While sun exposure plays a role in most melanoma tumors, a
new, first-of-its-kind study by Cleveland Clinic and Invitae found
that genetics also play a critical role in the likelihood of
developing melanoma. In fact, the study found that 15% of
individuals with melanoma have inherited variants in a variety of
genes associated with cancer predisposition syndromes,
demonstrating multiple potential etiologies. What's more, genes
previously associated with inherited melanoma comprised less than
half of pathogenic variants (48%); and the majority of germline
variants were in cancer predisposition genes that are not
traditionally associated with melanoma. This study shows that all
patients with melanoma should undergo genetic testing, whether or
not they have a family history of cancer, or a personal history of
sun exposure.
"Previously, it was thought that few melanoma patients would
demonstrate a pathogenic germline variant in cancer susceptibility
genes indicating an inherited component to their melanoma risk,"
said Joshua Arbesman, M.D.,
dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic and senior author of the study.
"Our results, however, suggest that about 1 in 6 melanoma patients
would have an inherited variant in cancer genes. This means that
these particular patients would benefit from cancer specific
screening (separate from skin screening) that could catch other
cancers earlier. We found similar results using multiple datasets
with variable inclusion criteria, suggesting this may be
potentially applicable to many melanoma patients."
Research shows prostate cancer testing guidelines out of
date
A separate study of prostate cancer patients confirmed similar
findings that limiting genetic testing to those patients who meet
NCCN guidelines deprives individuals and clinicians of actionable
information. In data from the ongoing PROCLAIM study, conducted
primarily in community urology clinics, 50% of pathogenic variants
in patients with prostate cancer would be missed if genetic testing
were done based on NCCN guidelines. The study also showed current
guidelines are poorly suited to detect pathogenic variants in
traditionally underrepresented populations, suggesting a transition
to universal testing may be the most expeditious strategy to
mitigate this potential healthcare disparity. Appropriately,
patients with cancer-linked pathogenic variants in the study were
more likely to have recommendations made by their clinicians
regarding changes to treatment, follow up and cascade testing than
those with negative or uncertain results. Clinicians made
genetics-based recommendations across the spectrum of patients
tested, including those not meeting NCCN criteria, and those with
low-grade and non-metastatic disease.
"Guidelines from national and international oncologic societies
are regularly updated but not always as quickly as our
understanding of gene-disease relationships in the rapidly evolving
field of genomic sequencing, and thus there are real world
implications affecting patient-physician decision making as well as
patient access to affordable and geographically accessible genetic
testing," said Dr. Neal Shore, lead
author of the study. "This study shows that germline genetic
testing has a significant impact on prostate cancer patient care,
and that urologists, oncologists, their patients and patients'
family members would benefit from making germline genetic testing a
routine practice for all prostate cancer patients."
Genetic changes impact colorectal cancer care
In a third study of more than 34,000 colorectal cancer
patients—the largest study of its kind to date—researchers found
that 13% of patients had inherited pathogenic variants that could
potentially impact patient eligibility for precision therapy,
access to clinical trials and/or inform screening for future
cancers. This study, in collaboration with investigators at the
University of Pennsylvania Perelman
School of Medicine, showed rates > 7.8% of clinically actionable
pathogenic gene variants independent of age group, racial/ethnic
group and panel size. The study saw a lower rate of pathogenic
variants in known cancer genes in Hispanic patients and a
higher rate of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in Black,
Asian and Hispanic patients. This underscores the historical
underrepresentation of these patients in genetics studies, and the
ongoing need to mitigate the associated healthcare disparities.
"In the United States,
colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related
deaths in men and in women, and the second most common cause of
cancer deaths when men and women are combined," said Ed Esplin, M.D., Ph.D., FACMG, FACP, clinical
geneticist at Invitae. "The genetic variants we inherit play a
crucial role in providing patients access to approved precision
therapies and clinical trials for colorectal cancer treatment, and
to quantify and mitigate the risk of colorectal cancer in their
at-risk family members. This study shows the importance of
broadening genetic testing criteria to include all patients with
colorectal cancer, regardless of age, race/ethnicity or family
history."
Additional clinical research from Invitae at ASCO
Invitae is presenting additional research at ASCO in
collaboration with academic institutions and research partners that
showcase the importance of genetic testing to guide cancer
diagnosis and precision medicine treatment. This effort is
consistent with the primary objectives of the Cancer Moonshot to
reduce the death rate from cancer by 50 percent and improve the
experience of people and their families living with cancer. All of
the presentations highlight Invitae's commitment to improving the
adoption of germline genetic testing among physicians and people
living with cancer, highlighting the impact of cancer genetics on
cancer patients from underserved populations, and effectively
illustrating its clinical utility in improving patient care.
2022 ASCO presentations:
- Poster 60/Abstract 4569: Titled: Germline variants across
self-reported racial populations with urothelial carcinoma (UC).
Presenter: Amin Nassar, M.D. —
Saturday, June 4, 2022 at
1:15 p.m. CDT.
- Abstract 10500: Titled: Democratizing germline genetic testing
and its impact on prostate cancer clinical decision-making.
Presenter: Neal D. Shore, M.D. —
Monday, June 6, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. CDT.
- Abstract 10504: Titled: Clinical implications of germline
genetic testing stratified by ethnicity in a large colorectal
cancer cohort. Presenter: Sarah
Coughlin, M.D. — Monday, June 6, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. CDT.
- Poster 464/Abstract 10589: Titled: Integrated germline and
somatic cancer testing provides opportunity to identify cancer risk
and resolve variant origins. Presenter: King Das, M.D. — Monday,
June 6, 2022 at 1:15 p.m.
CDT.
- Poster 455/Abstract 10580: Titled: Implementation of universal,
pan-cancer germline genetic testing in cancer patients in
Jordan. Presenter: Hikmat Abdel-Razeq, M.D. — Monday, June 6,
2022 at 1:15 p.m. CDT.
- Poster 463/Abstract 10588: Titled: Universal genetic testing
versus guideline-directed testing for hereditary cancer syndromes
among traditionally underrepresented patients in a community
oncology program. Presenter: Jeremy Clifton
Jones, M.D. — Monday, June 6,
2022 at 1:15 p.m. CDT.
- Poster 401/Abstract 10523: Titled: Germline predisposition in
oncologic and dermatologic melanoma cohorts. Presenter: Pauline
Funchain, M.D. — Monday, June 6, 2022
at 4:30 p.m. CDT.
- Online Publication: Titled: Patterns and prevalence of
pathogenic germline mutations using multi-gene panel testing in
patients with ovarian cancer. The Jordanian Exploratory Cancer
Genetics (Jo-ECAG) ovarian study. Lead Author Hikmat Abdel-Razeq,
M.D.
About Invitae
Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics
company, whose mission is to bring comprehensive genetic
information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for
billions of people. Invitae's goal is to aggregate the world's
genetic tests into a single service with higher quality, faster
turnaround time and lower prices. For more information, visit the
company's website at invitae.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, including statements relating to the company's beliefs
regarding the utility and implications of its new research; that
the data from the new research demonstrate that genetic information
can transform cancer care; that the data underscore the importance
of genetic testing for all cancer patients; and that the research
shows the importance of broadening genetic testing criteria to
include all cancer patients. Forward-looking statements are subject
to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as
an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to: the company's history of losses;
the company's ability to compete; the company's failure to manage
growth effectively; the company's need to scale its infrastructure
in advance of demand for its tests and to increase demand for its
tests; the company's ability to use rapidly changing genetic data
to interpret test results accurately and consistently; security
breaches, loss of data and other disruptions; laws and regulations
applicable to the company's business; and the other risks set forth
in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. These forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date hereof, and Invitae Corporation disclaims
any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Charaighn Sesock
pr@invitae.com
(628) 213-3283
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