Possible Benefit From Online Genetic Testing
Reported July 06, 2009
(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Private companies that offer online genetic testing are proliferating as scientists continue to decode the human genome.
“Up until now we have had a clear model for genetic testing. You see a professional genetics counselor, undergo a battery of tests and that professional helps you interpret your results,” Saskia Sanderson, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who completed the study while working at the Social and Behavioral Research Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute of the NIH was quoted as saying.
“That model is coming under increasing pressure as more and more genetic information is generated, and as a greater number of genetic tests becomes available on the Internet,” said Sanderson.
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) evaluated responses to an online test among smokers who did or did not have a common genetic variant associated with risk for lung cancer.
The sample included 44 individuals who were biologically related to people with lung cancer and who, themselves, smoked. The online test assessed the presence or absence of the GSTM1 gene, the absence of which has been associated with a slightly increased risk of lung cancer.
Exactly half of the smokers were missing GSTM1, thus presenting as higher risk. All the individuals missing GSTM1 correctly identified themselves as “higher risk.” Of the group with GSTM1 present, 55 percent accurately labeled themselves as “lower risk,” while 41 percent interpreted their result as “average risk.”
Patients genetically at higher risk for lung cancer were less confident that quitting smoking could reduce their risk. Scientists did note, however, that all of those who took the test chose to receive at least one of several offered smoking cessation aids.
Overall, the individuals taking this test found the results to be believable, trustworthy, easy to understand, relevant and important. At follow-up, no one regretted taking the test.
After taking the test, all of the smokers selected some sort of smoking cessation help with no difference between the higher risk and lower risk groups.
Scientists are reluctant to endorse the tests based on this one study, because of the limited number of participants. “Genetic information is complex, and there is a risk that providing unfiltered information will result in heightened worry and misinterpretation of results,” Jamie Ostroff, Ph.D., chief of behavioral science services at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and an editorial board member of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention was quoted as saying. “This pilot study found no harm in undergoing these tests and underscores the importance of conducting future research into how best to educate smokers about gene-environment risks.”
Scientists agreed that regardless of the genetic test result, quitting smoking is the single most important step a smoker can take to prevent lung cancer.
SOURCE: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research