2017 GI Cancers Symposium: Less Than Half of Recommended Adults Screened for Lynch Syndrome

The ASCO Post
 Posted: 1/23/2017

abstract
 Underuse of microsatellite instability testing and predictors of high microsatellite instability disease among young colorectal cancer patients.

 Key Points

• MSI testing is recommended for all patients younger than 50 years of age because of prognostic and therapeutic implications.
• MSI is a characteristic feature of Lynch syndrome and thus, having a germline mutation may put the patient and family members at risk for additional malignancies.
• Researchers found that although compliance with testing guidelines increased over the years we studied, overall less than half of colorectal cancer patients less than 50 years old were getting tested.

 A team of researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that, despite the recommendation of screening guidelines, less than half of adults younger than 50 years old who have colorectal cancer are being screened for Lynch syndrome, a genetic anomaly that increases the risk of colorectal and several other forms of cancer.