Prospective Randomized Trial of Streamlined Genetic Education and Testing for Ovarian Cancer Patients

Prospective, Randomized Non-inferiority Trial of Streamlined Genetic Education and Testing for High-grade Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian and Peritoneal Cancer Patients

Current guidelines recommend universal genetic testing for all patients with ovarian, fallopian and peritoneal cancer. The purpose of this trial is to investigate the non-inferiority of streamlined genetics education and testing for this patient population when compared to the traditional model of referral to genetic counseling. Patients will be randomized to either the streamlined or the traditional counseling arm. Those in the streamlined group will watch a brief educational video and have the option of immediate testing; The traditional counseling arm will instead be referred for a formal genetics consultation, after which they can choose to be tested. The primary outcome will be a patient reported outcome scale that assesses patient satisfaction with genetic counseling; patient anxiety and distress and cost effectiveness when using both strategies will also be evaluated. The study poses minimal risk to the patients that would not be encountered during standard of care genetic counseling.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Fallopian Tube Cancer; Peritoneal Cancer; Ovarian Cancer, Epithelial
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Traditional Education; Behavioral: Streamlined Education

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 64
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710
      • Duke University Health System

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Either a) pathologically confirmed diagnosis of high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian or peritoneal cancer via biopsy or surgical pathology or b) cytologic diagnosis consistent with high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer.
• Presenting to Duke gynecologic oncology clinic or collaborating institution for first outpatient visit following pathologic or cytologic diagnosis. If logistic constraints prevent the patient from being enrolled at her initial visit, she will be eligible for enrollment up to initiation of her fifth cycle of chemotherapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known family or personal history of an inherited cancer susceptibility mutation
• Previously received genetic counseling or testing for an inherited cancer susceptibility mutation
• Insurance provided by an insurance company that requires face-to-face genetic consultation prior to testing
• Unable to read or speak English as study design includes video assisted educational materials in English
• Blind or deaf as study design includes video assisted educational materials in English

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Tradition Counseling Group (TG); After completion of baseline surveys, the TG subjects will be referred to a formal pre-test consultation with a genetic counselor. TG subjects will complete an electronic family history questionnaire (FHQ) within one week of the primary visit. A member of the genetics team will curate the results by contacting the subject to review errors and clarify any ambiguities in the pedigree. The TG subjects will then meet with the genetic counselor. After counseling, participants will be given the option to undergo a multi-gene panel genetic test. Those who agree to testing will also complete the standard genetic testing consent form. As per standard practice, patients will also be asked to provide consent for somatic tumor testing of surgical (non-cytologic) specimen. Subjects will complete a post-education distress and anxiety survey (IES) either via an email link to a confidential REDCap survey link 1-2 weeks after formal consultation.	Behavioral: Traditional Education; The TG subjects will then meet with the genetic counselor at the previously scheduled appointment time. During this visit, they will receive approximately thirty to sixty minutes of counseling regarding genetic testing and potential results. The discussion is based on the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines of informed consent for genetic testing. After counseling, participants will be given the option to undergo a multi-gene panel genetic test either via saliva or blood sample. Those who agree to testing will also complete the standard genetic testing consent form. As per standard practice of the clinical genetic service at DCI, patients will also be asked to provide consent for somatic tumor testing of surgical specimen (non-cytologic).
EXPERIMENTAL: Streamlined Group (SG); After completion of the baseline surveys, the SG subjects will watch an approximately eight minute long genetics education video. All subjects will then have the option to "opt out" and receive formal genetic counseling prior to making a decision about testing. If the subject elects to undergo genetic testing, she will fill out the standard genetic testing consent form. As per standard practice of the clinical genetic service at Duke Cancer Institute (DCI), patients will also be asked to provide consent for somatic tumor testing of surgical (non-cytologic) specimen. SG subjects will complete an FHQ within one week of the primary visit. A member of the genetics team will curate the results by contacting the subject to review common errors and clarify any ambiguities in the pedigree. Subjects will complete a post-education distress and anxiety survey (IES) via either an email link to a confidential REDCap survey link or over the phone 1-2 weeks after education.	Behavioral: Streamlined Education; After completion of the baseline surveys, the SG subjects will watch an approximately eight minute long genetics education video. This video will be made with the assistance of Duke University genetic counselors and gynecologic oncology providers. It will consist of a discussion of genes and mutations, the recommendation of universal testing for high grade epithelial ovarian cancer, a review of genes associated with ovarian cancer predisposition, the possibility of uncertain results including variants of undetermined significance, the potential for undetected mutations in known or unknown cancer susceptibility genes, the potential impact on personal treatment and on family members, the possibility of genetic discrimination and the legal protection of genetic information.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Demographic Information	Number of participants with children	Baseline
Numeracy assessment	Numeracy as assessed by the Newest Vital Sign survey	Baseline
Electronic Family History	Family cancer history up to past 3 generations	Completed at least 1 week prior to genetic sample being taken
Change in anxiety and depression as measured by the IES Scale	The Impact of Events Scale (IES) has been used widely as a means of measuring patient distress (particularly intrusive thoughts or avoidance) over a defined incident. This evaluation will be used to identify trends in anxiety or depression in both arms throughout the education and testing process. In this trial, the "incident" will be described as "the risk of my cancer being hereditary."	Baseline, approximately 7 days post-education, and approximately 7 days post-results disclosure
Distress as measured by MICRA	The multidimensional impact of cancer risk assessment questionnaire (MICRA) is a 25-question validated tool that measures the impact of result disclosure in patients, particularly markers of distress	Approximately 7 days post-results disclosure

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Duke University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rebecca Previs, MD, MS, Duke Health

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): August 8, 2019
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): July 31, 2021
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): July 31, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 31, 2020
• First Posted (ACTUAL): September 3, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): August 26, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 25, 2021
• Last Verified: July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Carcinoma; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Endocrine System Diseases; Ovarian Diseases; Adnexal Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Endocrine Gland Neoplasms; Fallopian Tube Diseases; Ovarian Neoplasms; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
• Other Study ID Numbers: PRO00100538

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No