CANCER GENETIC SERVICES IN ONTARIO
Science today allows us to examine the genetic makeup of individuals and use the information to predict cancer risk, diagnose cancer, predict response to treatment, and better target therapies to individual patients. This exciting breakthrough field, called molecular oncology, has evolved rapidly. O...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.215.4887 http://www.cancercare.on.ca/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=31935 |
| Summary: | Science today allows us to examine the genetic makeup of individuals and use the information to predict cancer risk, diagnose cancer, predict response to treatment, and better target therapies to individual patients. This exciting breakthrough field, called molecular oncology, has evolved rapidly. Ontario has built an impressive foundation in basic science in the field, and established 20 laboratory testing sites and 22 clinical services sites that offer risk assessment and genetic counselling. Test volumes grew 52 % from 2003 to 2007. Despite this growth, the system in Ontario is not keeping pace with the demand for testing or the availability of tests offered 1. As a key initiative of the 2008–2011 Ontario Cancer Plan, Cancer Care Ontario’s Molecular Oncology Task Force (the Task Force) was convened to provide recommendations aimed at ensuring the Ontario system can meet the demands for these services and ensure quality and safety for patients, and is prepared to capitalize on this rapidly advancing field of knowledge. THE CASE FOR CHANGE The growth of genetic studies is leading to the increased pace of discovery of new predictive predisposition tests. In recent news, the quality of laboratory services offered in Canada has been brought into question. Reports from Newfoundland and New Brunswick of misdiagnosis of cancer and patients receiving inappropriate drug therapy have placed a spotlight on this issue. Compared with these jurisdictions, Ontario has a strong licensing and quality assurance program in place for most types of testing; however, the system has not kept pace with rapid advances in genetics and molecular testing. Accountability to monitor and evaluate molecular oncology activities is unclear, although Molecular Genetics is a new class of test at the Ministry of Health and |
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