Memorial Sloan Kettering study finds age-based genetic testing misses 72% of cancer variants

A study conducted by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggests that current age-based criteria for germline genetic testing may cause clinicians to miss a significant number of patients with inherited cancer risks.

Analyzing nearly 40,000 adults with 32 types of solid tumors, the research found that relying on age thresholds to determine eligibility for genetic testing would miss approximately 72% of patients carrying a pathogenic germline variant. While early-onset cancers are more frequently linked to inherited variants, the study demonstrated that these variants are also prevalent among patients diagnosed at average or older ages.

Dr. Zsofia Stadler, a medical oncologist and clinical geneticist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, noted that the current standard practice acts as a gatekeeper that overlooks the vast majority of patients with pathogenic variants. The findings support a shift toward universal germline genetic testing for all cancer patients, regardless of their age at diagnosis, to better inform treatment and assess family health risks.