MyCancerGene App for Cancer Genetic Testing Outcomes

(MyCancerGene Trial)

Overseen By Angela R Bradbury, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Disqualifiers: No internet access

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests an app called MyCancerGene to determine if it helps people better understand their genetic test results for cancer risks. The researchers aim to find out if the app can reduce stress, improve conversations with family and doctors, and encourage healthy habits. Participants will either use the app or follow regular care routines. This trial suits individuals who have undergone genetic counseling and testing for cancer risks within the last 60 days and have access to the internet or a mobile device. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance the understanding and management of genetic cancer risks.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe?

Research has shown that MyCancerGene, a digital health tool, was developed with input from both patients and genetic experts. This tool helps people better understand genetic testing for cancer.

No specific information exists on side effects or safety concerns for MyCancerGene. However, as a digital app rather than a medication or medical procedure, it is generally expected to be safe. Users interact with the app to receive information and support, posing much less risk than taking medicine or undergoing a medical procedure.

In summary, while specific safety data is lacking, the nature of MyCancerGene suggests it is a safe and easy-to-use tool for those interested in genetic testing for cancer. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the MyCancerGene app because it changes how genetic testing outcomes are delivered to cancer patients. Unlike traditional methods that rely on face-to-face consultations and paper-based reports, this app offers immediate, personalized information through an interactive digital platform. This new approach not only aims to enhance patient understanding and engagement but also promises to streamline communication between patients and healthcare providers, potentially leading to quicker decision-making and more tailored treatment plans.

What evidence suggests that the MyCancerGene app is effective for improving cancer genetic testing outcomes?

Research has shown that the MyCancerGene app, which participants in this trial may receive, helps users better understand their genetic test results, potentially reducing anxiety. Developers created the app with input from both patients and genetic counselors to simplify genetic information. Studies have found that using this app increases knowledge about genetic risks and encourages healthier habits to lower cancer risk. Although it's a new tool, early feedback suggests it improves communication with family and healthcare providers about genetic test results. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Angela Bradbury, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Pennsylvania

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for men and women over 18 who have had genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer syndromes within the last 60 days. Participants must speak English and have access to the internet or a mobile device.

Inclusion Criteria

Internet and/or mobile access

I am either male or female.

I have undergone genetic counseling and testing for cancer within the last 60 days.

Exclusion Criteria

No internet and/or mobile access

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive access to the MyCancerGene application to improve understanding and communication of genetic testing results

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in knowledge, distress, communication, and health behaviors

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• MyCancerGene

Trial Overview

The trial is testing 'MyCancerGene,' an interactive health application designed to improve patient understanding of genetic testing results, reduce distress, encourage communication with family and healthcare providers, and promote risk-reducing behaviors.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Individuals randomized to this arm will receive immediate access to the Interactive Health Communication Application.

Group II: Usual Care Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Individuals randomized to this arm will receive the standard clinical practice.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Lead Sponsor

Trials

360

Recruited

108,000+

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

425

Recruited

464,000+

American Cancer Society, Inc.

Collaborator

Trials

237

Recruited

110,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A web-based educational tool significantly increased knowledge and feelings of empowerment regarding genetic testing among 305 patients, regardless of their health literacy levels, indicating its effectiveness in educating patients before genetic counseling.

The tool may help address the shortage of trained genetic providers by streamlining the delivery of genetic services, as it was shown to enhance patient understanding without altering attitudes towards testing.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Web-Based Tool to Automate Portions of Pretest Genetic Counseling for Inherited Cancer. Cragun, D., Weidner, A., Tezak, A., et al.[2021]

The study developed an automated algorithmic pipeline that efficiently identifies patients eligible for precision medicine clinical trials based on genetic biomarkers, addressing the time-consuming and inconsistent manual processes currently used by healthcare providers.

This algorithm was successfully applied to patients at the Stanford Cancer Center, demonstrating its feasibility and accuracy as an effective alternative to traditional methods of clinical trial curation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increasing Clinical Trial Accrual via Automated Matching of Biomarker Criteria. Chen, JW., Kunder, CA., Bui, N., et al.[2022]

The GUÍA web-based platform significantly improved parents' perceived understanding of genetic test results, with participants in the GUÍA arm reporting a 2.8 times higher understanding compared to standard care, based on a study involving 551 participants.

Hispanic/Latino(a) participants using GUÍA showed even greater benefits, with a 3.9 times higher perceived understanding and improved confidence in explaining results, highlighting the platform's effectiveness in diverse populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The NYCKidSeq randomized controlled trial: Impact of GUÍA digitally enhanced genetic counseling in racially and ethnically diverse families. Suckiel, SA., Kelly, NR., Odgis, JA., et al.[2023]

Citations

1.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04774445

NCT04774445 | Effectiveness of MyCancerGene to ...

Many have results that are unclear and may or may not be associated with any risk for cancer (Variants of Uncertain Significance), or mutations in genes with ...

2.

bmccancer.biomedcentral.com

bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-025-14968-2

The MyCancerGene study: a hybrid type 1 effectiveness ...

The primary outcomes include knowledge and general anxiety from baseline to 1 month.

3.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41136924/

The MyCancerGene study: a hybrid type 1 effectiveness ...

The MyCancerGene study: a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized study comparing a patient-centered digital genetic health portal ...

4.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12120370/

Developing the MyCancerGene Digital Health Portal to ...

MyCancerGene, a patient-centered digital GHP, was developed with extensive patient and genetic provider feedback and designed to enhance ...

5.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-disease-susceptibility-4-2021-41dfc

MyCancerGene App for Cancer Genetic Testing Outcomes

The MyCancerGene treatment is unique because it uses a web-based app to automate parts of genetic counseling for cancer risk, making it easier and faster for ...

6.

mycancergenome.org

mycancergenome.org/

My Cancer Genome: Home

My Cancer Genome contains assertions on the clinical impact of 2,590 molecular biomarkers on the use of 2,876 drugs in 957 cancer types. This information is ...

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7647323/

The My Cancer Genome clinical trial data model and ...

To date, over 5000 oncology trials have been manually curated. All trial assertion data are available for public view on the MCG website.

8.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S2561326X25003488

Developing the MyCancerGene Digital Health Portal to ...

MyCancerGene, a patient-centered digital GHP, was developed with extensive patient and genetic provider feedback and designed to enhance longitudinal patient ...

9.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455805/

Personal Genomic Testing for Cancer Risk

Participants from both companies received a single genetic risk estimate based on genotyping of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms for breast (women only) ...