Dr. Wiesner on Importance of Genetic Testing for CRC

Georgia L. Wiesner, MD, MS, director, Clinical and Translational Hereditary Cancer Program, Ingram Professor of Cancer Research, professor of Medicine, cancer geneticist, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, discusses the importance of genetic testing for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Advancements have been made with genetic testing in the last 2 to 3 years, Wiesner explains. There are certain syndromes that account for a small number of people who are at high risk for developing CRC.

Genetic testing for these patients is important, Wiesner says, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the genes associated with the disease and what could cause it. Practitioners would also be able to do a surveillance approach for these patients.