Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35385106›Full record

ArticleThe oncologist2022

"Game Changer": Health Professionals' Views on the Clinical Utility of Circulating Tumor DNA Testing in Hereditary Cancer Syndrome Management.

Salma Shickh, Leslie E Oldfield, Marc Clausen, Chloe Mighton, Agnes Sebastian, Alessia Calvo, Nancy N Baxter, Lesa Dawson, Lynette S Penney, William Foulkes and 10 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The oncologist, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. A scoping review of factors influencing the implementation of liquid biopsy for cancer care.Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
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

20 authors at 8 institutions in 2 countries.

Salma ShickhSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Leslie E OldfieldPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Marc ClausenSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Chloe MightonSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Agnes SebastianSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Alessia CalvoSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Nancy N BaxterSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Lesa DawsonMemorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Lynette S PenneyDalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
William FoulkesMcGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Mark BasikMcGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Sophie SunBC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Kasmintan A SchraderBC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-7413-4314
Dean A RegierBC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Aly KarsanBC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Aaron PollettMount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Trevor J PughPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-8073-5888
Raymond H KimUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Yvonne BombardSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9516-4539
CHARM Consortium
University of British Columbia · CASt. Michael's Hospital · CAJewish General Hospital · CAMount Sinai Hospital · CAOntario Institute for Cancer Research · CADalhousie University · CAMemorial University of Newfoundland · CAUniversity Health Network · CA

Funding

CIHR CIHR-159453CIHR GSD-425969
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWe explored health professionals' views on the utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing in hereditary cancer syndrome (HCS) management. MATERIALS AND

methodsA qualitative interpretive description study was conducted, using semi-structured interviews with professionals across Canada. Thematic analysis employing constant comparison was used for analysis. 2 investigators coded each transcript. Differences were reconciled through discussion and the codebook was modified as new codes and themes emerged from the data.

resultsThirty-five professionals participated and included genetic counselors (n = 12), geneticists (n = 9), oncologists (n = 4), family doctors (n = 3), lab directors and scientists (n = 3), a health-system decision maker, a surgeon, a pathologist, and a nurse. Professionals described ctDNA as "transformative" and a "game-changer". However, they were divided on its use in HCS management, with some being optimistic (optimists) while others were hesitant (pessimists). Differences were driven by views on 3 factors: (1) clinical utility, (2) ctDNA's role in cancer screening, and (3) ctDNA's invasiveness. Optimists anticipated ctDNA testing would have clinical utility for HCS patients, its role would be akin to a diagnostic test and would be less invasive than standard screening (eg imaging). Pessimistic participants felt ctDNA testing would add limited utility; it would effectively be another screening test in the pathway, likely triggering additional investigations downstream, thereby increasing invasiveness.

conclusionsProviders anticipated ctDNA testing will transform early cancer detection for HCS families. However, the contrasting positions on ctDNA's role in the care pathway raise potential practice variations, highlighting a need to develop evidence to support clinical implementation and guidelines to standardize adoption.

Indexed as

Circulating Tumor DNANeoplastic Syndromes, HereditaryEarly Detection of CancerHealth PersonnelHumansQualitative ResearchCirculating Tumor DNAcancer detectioncirculating tumor DNAclinical utilitygenomicshereditary cancer syndromes

Identifiers

PMID35385106
PMCPMC9075003
OpenAlexW4210930134

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.