Feasibility Trial of Combination of Obstetrical Carrier Screening and Hereditary Cancer Screening

Overview

The investigators hypothesize that preconception and pregnancy may be a feasible and effective time to offer inherited cancer risk screening. This study will assess interest in cancer genetic testing among patients receiving routine prenatal care or preconception care. The goal is to evaluate the acceptability of hereditary cancer testing when offered alongside standard prenatal genetic screening. The study will also explore whether universal screening in this population could support early cancer prevention

In this prospective trial, a clinician in the department of OBGYN will meet with preconception/pregnant patients who are undergoing obstetrical carrier screening (OCS) at Columbia University affiliated OBGYN clinics to review the options for concurrent hereditary cancer screening (HCS). If interested in the study, the patient will be contacted by a study coordinator and offered participation in the study. The patients will have counseling on potential risks and benefits of genetics testing and have OCS performed per standard of care protocols. This consultation will include collection of comprehensive personal and family history to generate a cancer genetic risk assessment. The patient will be counseled based on their cancer genetic risk assessment, whether or not National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for cancer risk assessment are met and the resulting anticipated cost. The patient will be offered additional consultation with a genetic counselor and/or a Natera financial representative if desired for further counseling. If the patient decides to proceed with HCS, the Natera Empower Hereditary Cancer Panel will be drawn at the time of the OCS panel blood draw and sent to Natera for processing. OCS results will be sent separately and reported to the patient based on standard protocols. Patients that have HCS panels sent will be notified of their results by a genetic counselor from Columbia University's Department of OBGYN and standard of care post test counseling/referrals made. The study team will evaluate patient acceptance of testing and the patient experience, via validated surveys conducted at time of testing. The study team will evaluate if patient sociodemographic characteristic (e.g. age, parity, race, ethnicity, medical history, family history) are associated with patient acceptance of the combined OCS/HSC panel. Patients that elect to undergo HCS panel will also complete the Regret About Healthcare Decisions Survey after receiving their HCS results. Participation in surveys is encouraged but not mandatory. All patient demographics, survey screens and results will be stored in a secure online database maintained by Columbia University's Department of OBGYN. This data will be entered and maintained by study personal at Columbia University. Patients enrolled in the study will be invited to participate in an interview conducted by telephone at times convenient for them. Interviews will be conducted by language-concordant, trained qualitative experts. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Participation in the interview is not mandatory. Patients that completed HCS and had a mutation that resulted in a recommendation for clinical follow up (e.g. BRCA 1/2 mutation with recommendation for breast screening) will be contacted by telephone at 18 months and asked whether they completed the medical follow-up prompted by HCS results. Participation in this follow-up is not mandatory.