Dr. Willmott on Expanding Genomic Testing in Ovarian Cancer

Lyndsay Willmott, MD, gynecologic oncologist, Arizona Oncology, discusses the expanding role for genomic testing in ovarian cancer.
Companion diagnostics are available to identify patients with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)–positive ovarian cancer, Willmott says. However, not all patients within this subgroup are being captured with current testing options. As such, genomic testing will continue to evolve to better identify the genomic scarring associated with this disease subtype, Willmott explains. 

Additionally, genomic assays are available to identify germline mutations that span several different genes, Willmott adds.

Most clinicians utilize HRD testing routinely, as it captures the largest pool of patients with ovarian cancer, Willmott continues. Additionally, reflex testing can determine whether HRD positivity is related to an underlying germline mutation, Willmott says. Finally, germline mutations are important to uncover so that a patient’s family members can be tested if indicated, Willmott concludes.