Age Limits in Cancer Gene Testing May Overlook Many Inherited Risks
A study indicates that limiting inherited cancer-risk gene testing to younger patients may leave many harmful variants undiscovered. Researchers analyzed 39,184 people with solid tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering without applying an age restriction, suggesting current age-based screening misses a large fraction of carriers. The team says wider testing could guide treatment and reveal risk among relatives.
At Memorial Sloan Kettering, researchers gave germline testing to 39,184 people with solid tumors, irrespective of age. The MSK-IMPACT assay checked 94 inherited cancer-risk variants using blood or saliva. Overall, 16.3% carried at least one. Applying the usual under-50 cutoff would have left 4,601 carriers untested—72% of all carriers found.
The team also grouped cases by each cancer type's typical onset age. Early-onset cases had 18.4% variant prevalence, average-onset 15.6%, and late-onset 12.3%. This suggests inherited risk persists across age groups.
Broader germline testing could affect patients beyond the current younger cohort, including older adults whose inherited risk may otherwise go unrecognized. If more carriers are identified, relatives may gain chances to seek counseling or screening, and some patients may receive treatment informed by specific variants. However, expanded testing may also increase demand for genetic services and follow-up, so benefits could depend on access, counseling capacity, and how results are used.