TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological opportunities and hazards in predictive genetic testing for cancer risk
AU - Codori, A. M.
N1 - Funding Information:
HELIX is a directory of medical genetics laboratories funded by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Although the availability of genetic tests seems like an unequivocally favorable turn of events, they are, in fact, not without controversy. At the center of the controversy is a question regarding the risks and benefits of genetic testing. Many geneticists, ethicists, psychologists, and persons at risk for cancer are concerned about the potentially adverse psychological effects of genetic testing on tested persons and their families. In addition, the screening and interventions that are useful in the general population remain to be shown effective in those with high genetic cancer risk. Consequently, there have been calls for caution in moving genetic testing out of research laboratories and into commercial laboratories until their impact and the effectiveness of cancer prevention strategies can be studied. This article examines the arguments and data for and against this caution, citing examples related to hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and drawing upon literature on testing for other genetic diseases.
AB - Although the availability of genetic tests seems like an unequivocally favorable turn of events, they are, in fact, not without controversy. At the center of the controversy is a question regarding the risks and benefits of genetic testing. Many geneticists, ethicists, psychologists, and persons at risk for cancer are concerned about the potentially adverse psychological effects of genetic testing on tested persons and their families. In addition, the screening and interventions that are useful in the general population remain to be shown effective in those with high genetic cancer risk. Consequently, there have been calls for caution in moving genetic testing out of research laboratories and into commercial laboratories until their impact and the effectiveness of cancer prevention strategies can be studied. This article examines the arguments and data for and against this caution, citing examples related to hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and drawing upon literature on testing for other genetic diseases.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0889-8553(05)70281-8
DO - 10.1016/S0889-8553(05)70281-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 9119438
AN - SCOPUS:0031050287
SN - 0889-8553
VL - 26
SP - 19
EP - 39
JO - Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
JF - Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
IS - 1
ER -