Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33313973›Full record

ArticleMolecular biology reports2021

BRCA testing delay during the COVID-19 pandemic: How to act?

Angelo Minucci, Giovanni Scambia, Maria De Bonis, Elisa De Paolis, Concetta Santonocito, Anna Fagotti, Ettore Capoluongo, Paola Concolino, Andrea Urbani

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular biology reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Angelo MinucciMolecular and Genomic Diagnostics Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. angelo.minucci@policlinicogemelli.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0833-4334
Giovanni ScambiaDivision of Oncological Gynecology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Maria De BonisMolecular and Genomic Diagnostics Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Elisa De PaolisMolecular and Genomic Diagnostics Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Concetta SantonocitoMolecular and Genomic Diagnostics Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Anna FagottiDivision of Oncological Gynecology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Ettore CapoluongoUniversità Federico II-CEINGE, Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy.
Paola ConcolinoMolecular and Genomic Diagnostics Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Andrea UrbaniMolecular and Genomic Diagnostics Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Recently, our lab, part of a referral center in Italy, reported its experience regarding the execution of germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA) testing during the first months of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which highlights a substantial reduction (about 60%) compared with the first 2 months of the current year. This evidence appeared to be a lockdown effect due to extraordinary restriction measures to slow down the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the overall effects of the ongoing pandemic on gBRCA testing in our institution and to understand how COVID-19 has influenced testing after the complete lockdown (March 8-May 5, 2020). Additionally, we compared this year's trend with trends of the last 3 years to better monitor gBRCA testing progress. This detailed analysis highlights two important findings: (1) gBRCA testing did not increase significantly after the lockdown period (May-October 2020) compared with the lockdown period (March-April 2020), emphasizing that even after the lockdown period testing remained low. (2) Comparing the total tests per year (January-October 2017, 2018, 2019, with 2020), the impact of COVID-19 on gBRCA testing is apparent, with similarities of trends registered in 2017. These evidences reveal a gBRCA testing delay for cancer patients and healthy patients at this moment, and the new era of gBRCA testing in the management of ovarian, breast, pancreas and prostate cancer patients has been seriously questioned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As consequence, we underline that measures to guarantee oncogenetic testing (e.g., gBRCA testing) along with new diagnostic/clinic strategies are mandatory. For these reasons, several proposals are presented in this study.

Indexed as

PandemicsBiomarkers, TumorBRCA1 ProteinBreast NeoplasmsCOVID-19Delayed DiagnosisEarly Detection of CancerFemaleHealth PolicyHumansItalyMaleOvarian NeoplasmsPancreatic NeoplasmsPhysical DistancingProstatic NeoplasmsBiomarkers, TumorBRCA1 ProteinBRCA1 protein, humanBRCA genesCoronavirus disease 2019COVID-19 pandemic in ItalyGermline BRCA testingTumor BRCA testing

Identifiers

PMID33313973
PMCPMC7733534

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.