Survey of Human and Molecular resources for diagnosis and evaluation of Hereditary Cancer in Argentina

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The National Cancer Institute of Argentina has developed a national Survey of Human and Molecular Hereditary Cancer Resources. OBJECTIVES: To identify and categorize cancer genetic counseling clinics and laboratories performing molecular studies as the basis for public health strategies to improve detection and management of the most frequent hereditary cancers, like breast and colorectal ones. METHODS: A total of 187 public and private institutions around the country were surveyed and as a resource for mapping national databases were consulted. RESULTS: A total of 44 genetic counseling clinics and 25 laboratories were identified. Two-thirds of the institutions are private and one-third, public. All services are concentrated in 9 of the 24 jurisdictions. While 94% of the public institutions offer counseling by specialized professionals, 43% of the private institutions do not have specialized professionals in charge of that area. Determinations for 15 syndromes, 25 different genes and 2 non-syndromic entities are made. CONCLUSIONS: The surveyed human and molecular resources are heterogeneous in their distribution and show a wide variability in the services provided.