Familial testicular cancer: interest in genetic testing among high-risk family members.
OBJECTIVE
This study is part of an ongoing National Cancer Institute multidisciplinary, etiologically-focused, cross-sectional study of Familial Testicular Cancer (FTC). The current report targets interest in clinical genetic testing for susceptibility to FTC.


METHODS
Demographics, knowledge, health beliefs, and psychological and social factors were evaluated as covariates related to interest in genetic testing.


RESULTS
The majority (66%) of 229 participants (64 affected men, 66 unaffected men, and 99 women) from 47 multiple-case FTC families expressed interest in having a genetic test within 6 months, should such a test become available. Interest was similar among the three subgroups mentioned above. Worries about insurance discrimination based on genetic test results were associated with a significantly lower interest in testing. Alternatively, participants were more likely to be interested in genetic testing if they were younger and had higher levels of family support, a physician's recommendation supporting testing, cancer distress, and a need for information to inform the health care of their children.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals social and relationship factors that FTC survivors and their relatives considered important when contemplating the use of new genetic technologies. This is the first study describing hypothetical interest in genetic testing for familial testicular cancer.
Peters
June A
JA
Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), DHHS, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA. petersju@mail.nih.gov
Vadaparampil
Susan T
ST
Kramer
Joan
J
Moser
Richard P
RP
Court
Lori Jo Peterson
LJ
Loud
Jennifer
J
Greene
Mark H
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*