The debate over the need for genetic testing of all breast cancer patients for germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in BRCA1, BRCA2 and other breast cancer-linked genes continues with the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) declining to recommend general testing. However, the ACMG did recommend evaluating all breast cancer patients for their need for germline genetic testing to assess their inherited risk for the disease. Lack of Consensus on Need for Genetic Testing of Breast Cancer Patients Of all cancers that impact women in the U.S., breast cancer has the highest incidence, regardless of race or ethnicity with an estimated 271,270 new cases and 42,260 deaths in 2019. Despite the longstanding availability of testing for inherited cancer, including the BRCA1/2 genes for which testing has been clinically available for more than two decades, only a small proportion of the at-risk population has traditionally been tested. The ACMG statement, which the nationally recognized genetic medicine professional organization published in its official journal, Genetics in Medicine, on Dec. 13 is contrary to a consensus guideline issued by the American Society of Breast Surgeons in February 2019 which does recommend genetic testing for BRCA1/2 and PALB2, and where clinical […]