Longitudinal adherence to breast cancer surveillance following cancer genetic testing in an integrated health care system

Purpose Screening with mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important risk management strategy for individuals with inherited pathogenic variants (PVs) in genes associated with increased breast cancer risk. We describe longitudinal screening adherence in individuals who underwent cancer genetic testing as part of usual care in a vertically integrated health system. Methods We determined the proportion time covered (PTC) by annual mammography and breast MRI for individuals with PVs in TP53 , BRCA1 , BRCA2, PALB2 , NF1, CHEK2 , and ATM . We determined time covered by biennial mammography beginning at age 50 years for individuals who received negative results, uncertain results, or with PVs in genes without specific breast cancer screening recommendations. Results One hundred and forty individuals had PVs in TP53 , BRCA1 , BRCA2, PALB2 , NF1, CHEK2 , or ATM . Among these individuals, average PTC was 48% (range 0–99%) for annual screening mammography and 34% (range 0–100%) for annual breast MRI. Average PTC was highest for individuals with PVs in CHEK2 ( N = 14) and lowest for individuals with PVs in TP53 ( N = 3). Average PTC for biennial mammography ( N = 1,027) was 49% (0–100%). Conclusion Longitudinal screening adherence in individuals with PVs in breast cancer associated genes, as measured by the proportion of time covered, is low; adherence to annual breast MRI falls below that of annual mammography. Additional research should examine screening behavior in individuals with PVs in breast cancer associated genes with a goal of developing interventions to improve adherence to recommended risk management.