Abstract A190: Management of germline findings revealed throughout the course of tumor-normal whole genome sequencing in oncology
Authors: Lim Howard J. , Schrader Kasmintan A. , Young Sean , Nelson Jessica M T , Fok Alexandra , Pleasance Erin , Jones Martin , Shen Yaoqing , Armstrong Linlea , Virani Alice , Rassekh Shahrad , Deyell Rebecca , Yip Stephen , Roscoe Robyn , Karsan Aly , Marra Marco , Laskin Janessa J. 
Published: August 2018

Background: The Personalized OncoGenomics (POG) project at the BC Cancer Agency utilizes tumor-normal whole genome sequencing (WGS) to understand key driver pathways and guide personalized treatment decisions. Analysis of the germline data can reveal variants; these may be presumed pathogenic, presumed benign, or of unknown significance (VUS). We have developed a process for evaluating and returning presumed pathogenic variants in known cancer susceptibility genes to patients, for counseling and validation in a clinical-accredited laboratory. Methods: Patients receive germline cancer-related information as part of the consent process for participation in the POG program. A subcommittee comprising medical geneticists, bioinformaticians, pathologists, oncologists, and an ethicist review the germline results. Any variants suspicious of being an artifact undergo a technical validation step. Presumed pathogenic findings of known cancer susceptibility genes are returned to the patient by their treating oncologist and patients are referred to the Hereditary Cancer Program (HCP), for genetic counseling and clinical confirmation. Results: From June 2012-January 2017, 466 patients have consented to the project. To date, 39 cases (8.4%) had at least one variant that was deemed pathogenic, and 86 cases had at least one VUS in a known cancer susceptibility gene. 11 out of 23 cases (47.8%) with high-penetrance mutations were already known to HCP. All VUS were reviewed by the subcommittee, taking into consideration the VUS and clinical context. 8 of the subjects with pathogenic results and 3 with VUS were known to HCP before POG data were generated. A VUS in 7 cases (1.5%) was returned after review. Conclusions: The number of pathogenic variants in known cancer susceptibility genes is consistent with published oncology results. We created a process to manage clinically relevant germline findings discovered during the course of genomic research to ensure appropriate care for patients. Genetic counseling within HCP and validation of variants in the clinically accredited Cancer Genetics Laboratory enables seamless return of research-generated clinically relevant germline results to affected subjects.

Citation Format: Howard J. Lim, Kasmintan A. Schrader, Sean Young, Jessica M T Nelson, Alexandra Fok, Erin Pleasance, Martin Jones, Yaoqing Shen, Linlea Armstrong, Alice Virani, Shahrad Rassekh, Rebecca Deyell, Stephen Yip, Robyn Roscoe, Aly Karsan, Marco Marra, Janessa J. Laskin. Management of germline findings revealed throughout the course of tumor-normal whole genome sequencing in oncology [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2017 Oct 26-30; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2018;17(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A190.