Next-generation sequencing for genetic cancer risk assessment: Critical needs and perceptions of community clinicians.

1536 Background: Current standard-of-care practice for genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA) focuses on single-gene testing for specific hereditary cancer syndromes. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies recently became available for clinical applications. This study explored the perspectives and experiences of community-based clinicians regarding NGS testing for personalized GCRA. Methods: A 27-item survey was developed and administered online to 325 members of an interdisciplinary nationwide clinical cancer genetics community of practice. Results: Of 94 (29%) respondents, 25 (27%) have ordered at least one multi-gene panel and only 2 (2.1%) have ordered a whole exome or genome test from a commercial vendor for GCRA. Concerns about clinical utility, the challenge of interpreting and communicating results, lack of knowledge about and potential costs were most often cited as reasons for not pursuing NGS testing. Respondents were significantly more confident about their ability to interpret and counsel about single gene test results compared with multi-gene panels or whole exome/genome sequencing; and about multi-gene panels over whole exome/genome sequencing (p<.0001 for all comparisons). Conclusions: Findings suggest that while NGS tests are entering the realm of GCRA, multidisciplinary genomics education and clinical support resources are needed to address barriers to utilization and promote successful integration of NGS testing into community-based GCRA practice settings.