Hereditary cancer panel: know your inherited risk.

A hereditary cancer gene panel sequences the genes most strongly linked to inherited cancer risk — including BRCA1, BRCA2, the Lynch syndrome genes and TP53. A significant result can change how and how often you are screened, and opens testing for relatives, so consent and genetic counselling are built in.

Why hereditary cancer testing matters

A minority of cancers are strongly hereditary, but for those who carry a high-risk variant the implications are significant. Knowing early allows earlier and more frequent surveillance, risk-reducing options, and cascade testing for family members who may share the variant.

The HodieLabs panel sequences 113 cancer-predisposition genes. It is most appropriate where family history, ancestry, or an earlier finding points to inherited risk.

What the clinical evidence shows

• BRCA1/BRCA2 (Kuchenbaecker et al., JAMA 2017): quantified the substantially elevated lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer in carriers, underpinning enhanced screening and prevention.
• Lynch syndrome (Møller et al., Gut 2018): demonstrated high cumulative cancer risk in carriers and the value of colonoscopic surveillance.
• NCCN and eviQ guidelines: define who should be offered testing and how carriers should be managed, including in the Australian setting.

Evidence-based reference ranges

Results are reported as variant classifications, interpreted with counselling:

Band	Variant classification
Pathogenic	Disease-associated variant — informs surveillance and family testing
Likely pathogenic	Probably disease-associated — managed as clinically significant
Variant of uncertain significance	Unclear meaning — usually no action, may be reclassified
Likely benign / Benign	Not associated with increased risk

Clinical interpretation

• A pathogenic result does not mean you have cancer — it means your inherited risk is higher, which changes surveillance and prevention.
• Results have implications for blood relatives, so pre- and post-test genetic counselling is essential and included.
• A negative result does not remove all cancer risk; standard population screening still applies.

How this works at HodieLabs

The Hereditary Cancer Panel is available as an add-on to any HodieLabs membership, delivered through an accredited genomics laboratory with genetic counselling and doctor-led interpretation at our Melbourne Preventative Health & Longevity Clinic.

References

1. Kuchenbaecker KB, et al. Risks of breast, ovarian, and contralateral breast cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. JAMA. 2017;317:2402–2416.
2. Møller P, et al. Cancer incidence and survival in Lynch syndrome carriers (Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database). Gut. 2018;67:1306–1316.
3. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and eviQ guidelines for hereditary cancer risk assessment.

This page is general information from the HodieLabs Evidence-Based Clinical Library, not medical advice. Speak with your GP about what testing and care is appropriate for you.