The McGill Interactive Pediatric OncoGenetic Guidelines: An approach to identifying pediatric oncology patients most likely to benefit from a genetic evaluation

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2017 Aug;64(8). doi: 10.1002/pbc.26441. Epub 2017 Jan 18.

Abstract

Identifying cancer predisposition syndromes in children with tumors is crucial, yet few clinical guidelines exist to identify children at high risk of having germline mutations. The McGill Interactive Pediatric OncoGenetic Guidelines project aims to create a validated pediatric guideline in the form of a smartphone/tablet application using algorithms to process clinical data and help determine whether to refer a child for genetic assessment. This paper discusses the initial stages of the project, focusing on its overall structure, the methodology underpinning the algorithms, and the upcoming algorithm validation process.

Keywords: cancer genetics; cancer predisposition syndrome; familial cancer; germline mutation; pediatric.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genetic Testing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Mobile Applications*
  • Neoplasms / genetics*