Consideration of Inherited Cancer Risk on a Continuum with Tuya Pal, MD, FACMG

• Germline pathogenic variants (GPVs) in cancer susceptibility genes (CSGs) vary in their penetrance across organ sites and resultant influence on clinical management. Overall cancer risk in an individual with a GPV in a CSG can vary widely due to contributions from genetic factors such as the specific variant, wider genomic context (e.g., common risk alleles comprising polygenic risk scores), and modifiable and non-modifiable factors, including but not limited to, family history, age, environment, lifestyle, and hormonal factors. Cancer risk perception for an individual can be influenced by factors such as personal context, experience of hereditary cancer risk, and subjective experience of risk. The threshold for clinical intervention to either reduce cancer risk or initiate cancer surveillance requires assimilation of all contributing risk factors, consideration of medical context (i.e., other competing risks, such as comorbidities) and personalized counseling to enable individualized cancer risk management. 

  Level of Instruction: Intermediate

  

  Only the live session qualifies for CEUs but when possible, we host the recordings on our website and NSGC recommends participants to use their personal email instead of work email addresses to ensure they receive their CEU certificates.

  

  Ambry Genetics is approved as a provider for continuing education program by NSGC and ASCLS P.A.C.E ® Program.

Tuya Pal, MD, FACMG | Presenter

Professor and Clinical Geneticist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center-Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Tuya Pal, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine and an Ingram Professor of Cancer Research at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she is also the Associate Director for Clinical Genomics at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. She is a board-certified practicing clinical cancer geneticist, and also the Vice Chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Genetics/Familial Guidelines Committee for Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Prostate Cancer. Her research has focused on genomics, etiology, outcomes, and care delivery among individuals with inherited cancer, including young Black women with breast cancer. 

Katherine Crawford, MS, CGC | Moderator

Clinical Science Liaison at Ambry Genetics

Katie is a Clinical Science Liaison at Ambry Genetics working with oncology, rare disease, and exome. She has previously worked clinically at Women & Infant's Hospital of Rhode Island for over five years as an oncology genetic counselor. She is a graduate of the Arcadia University Genetic Counseling Program and has numerous scientific publications in the fields of oncology, neurology, epidemiology, and psychiatry.