Dr. Taylor on Molecular Testing Recommendations in Ovarian Cancer

Sarah E. Taylor, MD, assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, discusses molecular testing recommendations in ovarian cancer.

Germline testing should be considered for patients who harbor a genetic predisposition to ovarian cancer as their risk of developing cancer is higher than that of the general population, says Taylor. For example, patients with Lynch syndrome have a 40% to 60% risk of developing endometrial cancer.

All patients with a family history of ovarian cancer should undergo molecular testing as up to 20% will develop ovarian cancer, explains Taylor. Moreover, these patients may have a genetic predisposition to other cancer types.

Somatic testing has seen little development in ovarian cancer, says Taylor. Investigating the molecular biology of ovarian cancer tumors in a controlled laboratory setting may provide a more comprehensive understanding of which patients should undergo somatic testing.