Testing for BRCA1/2 in Prostate Cancer Pathways – 18 September 11am – 12:30pm
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is enriched for genomic alterations in DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways, including homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes, in up to 1/3 of patients. Of these,1/3 are represented by alterations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. As PARP protein plays a key role in helping damaged cells to repair themselves, treatments to target PARP can be of value in cancers with DNA repair deficiencies.
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Running Order for the Session
- Dr Pasquale Rescigno – The Clinical Picture
- Dr Selina Bhattarai – Pathology
- Paul Roberts – BRCA Testing
- Dr Jackie Cook – Clinical Genetics
Session Information
Olaparib was the first PARP inhibitor to be approved in this setting, showing its efficacy in a large phase III trial. Since the NICE approval of Olaparib (March 2023) for BRCA altered mCRPC patients, genomic laboratory hubs (GLHs) across the country have provided a sequencing service for BRCA1/2 determination.
The North East and Yorkshire GLH currently utilises an approach to BRCA1/2 testing which aims to ensure the following:
- comprehensive coverage of the BRCA1/2 genes;
- testing undertaken on the most appropriate samples;
- a high success rate;
- acceptable turnaround times.
This meeting has the purpose of sharing the following among pathologists, geneticists, urologists and oncologists involved in prostate cancer diagnosis and care:
- outcomes after a year of testing; GLH referral pathways;
- sequencing criteria;
- future testing and options for service improvements.
Speakers
Dr Jackie Cook
Dr Jackie Cook has been a consultant Clinical Geneticist at Sheffield since 1996, specialising in cancer, renal and endocrine genetics.
She is currently the Clinical Director for Rare Disease for the North East and Yorkshire Genomic Medicine Service.
Previously to that she was the Rare Disease lead for the Yorkshire and Humber Genomic Medicine Service delivering the 100K genome project. Nationally she sits on the National Genomic Test Directory evaluation board, the National Cancer Genomics Programme board and the Genomics England diagnostic discovery board.
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Paul Roberts
Paul Roberts has worked in the Leeds Genetics Laboratory since 1982, where he helped introduce the solid cancer genetic service into the lab, became the training lead for the service and an associate lecturer at Leeds University. He later became the head of the Leeds Cytogenetics service.
Following reconfiguration of the genomics laboratories in England in 2018, the Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle genomics labs formed a partnership to become the North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub (NEY GLH). Within this structure, Paul commenced his current role as the lead scientist for solid cancer for the NEY GLH.
The role involves working closely with clinical, scientific, technical and bioinformatics staff to ensure the solid cancer genomics service complies with the requirements of the NHSE national cancer test directory. This means introducing new technologies, applying the appropriate testing according to tumour types, and helping to align the testing strategy for the whole of the NEY GLH population.
Dr Pasquale Rescigno
Dr Pasquale Rescigno is a dedicated medical oncologist with a focus on genitourinary tumours. He obtained his MD and PhD from the University of Naples and completed a clinical research fellowship at the Institute of Cancer Research.
Pasquale was director of the Translational and clinical trial team for GU cancers at Candiolo Cancer Institute, Turin Italy. He currently serves as a clinical senior lecturer and honorary consultant at Newcastle University/Newcastle Hospitals.
Dr Selina Bhattarai
- Histopathologist with specialist interest in GU pathology at St James’ University Hospital, Leeds.
- Organiser and teaching faculty of the British Association of Urological Pathologists (BAUP) running 2 courses annually in Leeds and London (2021)
- Organiser of BAUP’s monthly webinars on GU pathology attracting an audience of +500 (2023).
- Course director and Speaker of the ‘National Expert Practitioner Course’ in Cellular pathology (since 2014).
- Pathology representative on the SSWG supporting the development of the new Service Specification for Penile Cancer in England (2024).
- Professional expert in the NICE technology appraisal programme for PD-L1 testing in urothelial carcinoma (2021)
- RCPath examiner and representative for the RCPath Appointment Advisory Committee (since 2016)