ArticleCureus2025
Real-World Impact of a BRCA Testing Protocol in Portugal.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are key tumor suppressor genes involved in DNA repair, and their mutations significantly increase the risk of breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Despite international guidelines recommending genetic testing in patients meeting specific criteria, BRCA testing remains underutilized in Portugal, limiting early diagnosis and personalized treatment opportunities. This multicenter quality-improvement study aimed to characterize baseline BRCA testing practices and assess the impact of implementing a standardized testing protocol across three oncology centers: Unidade Local de Saúde (ULS) Lisboa Ocidental, ULS Amadora Sintra, and ULS Loures Odivelas. The intervention included baseline data collection, development of a protocol based on international best practices, dissemination to clinical teams, and post-implementation evaluation. At baseline, the three institutions requested an average of 14.16 BRCA tests per month. Following protocol implementation, the average rose to 29.66 monthly tests, representing a 109.4% increase. All centers showed improved testing rates, with the most significant relative rise at ULS Amadora Sintra (388.8%). Although differences between centers likely reflect institutional variation in awareness and resources, these findings support the effectiveness of a protocol-driven approach to improving adherence to genetic testing guidelines. This study presents the first multicenter real-world data on BRCA testing practices in Portugal and underscores the value of local engagement and standardization in advancing precision oncology.
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Registered trials
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.