An interventional study of Natera empower comprehensive hereditary cancer panel and Obstetrical carrier screening in Hereditary Cancer Syndrome, sponsored by Columbia University. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 55 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-18.
Sponsored by Columbia University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Screening
The investigators hypothesize that preconception and pregnancy may be a feasible and effective time to offer inherited cancer risk screening. This study will assess interest in cancer genetic testing among patients receiving routine prenatal care or preconception care. The goal is to evaluate the acceptability of hereditary cancer testing when offered alongside standard prenatal genetic screening. The study will also explore whether universal screening in this population could support early cancer prevention
In this prospective trial, a clinician in the department of OBGYN will meet with preconception/pregnant patients who are undergoing obstetrical carrier screening (OCS) at Columbia University affiliated OBGYN clinics to review the options for concurrent hereditary cancer screening (HCS). If interested in the study, the patient will be contacted by a study coordinator and offered participation in the study. The patients will have counseling on potential risks and benefits of genetics testing and have OCS performed per standard of care protocols. This consultation will include collection of comprehensive personal and family history to generate a cancer genetic risk assessment. The patient will be counseled based on their cancer genetic risk assessment, whether or not National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for cancer risk assessment are met and the resulting anticipated cost. The patient will be offered additional consultation with a genetic counselor and/or a Natera financial representative if desired for further counseling. If the patient decides to proceed with HCS, the Natera Empower Hereditary Cancer Panel will be drawn at the time of the OCS panel blood draw and sent to Natera for processing. OCS results will be sent separately and reported to the patient based on standard protocols. Patients that have HCS panels sent will be notified of their results by a genetic counselor from Columbia University's Department of OBGYN and standard of care post test counseling/referrals made.
The study team will evaluate patient acceptance of testing and the patient experience, via validated surveys conducted at time of testing. The study team will evaluate if patient sociodemographic characteristic (e.g. age, parity, race, ethnicity, medical history, family history) are associated with patient acceptance of the combined OCS/HSC panel. Patients that elect to undergo HCS panel will also complete the Regret About Healthcare Decisions Survey after receiving their HCS results. Participation in surveys is encouraged but not mandatory. All patient demographics, survey screens and results will be stored in a secure online database maintained by Columbia University's Department of OBGYN. This data will be entered and maintained by study personal at Columbia University. Patients enrolled in the study will be invited to participate in an interview conducted by telephone at times convenient for them. Interviews will be conducted by language-concordant, trained qualitative experts. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Participation in the interview is not mandatory.
Patients that completed HCS and had a mutation that resulted in a recommendation for clinical follow up (e.g. BRCA 1/2 mutation with recommendation for breast screening) will be contacted by telephone at 18 months and asked whether they completed the medical follow-up prompted by HCS results. Participation in this follow-up is not mandatory.
44 studies on the registry are indexed under Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary; 23 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 1,000 is above the median of 550 across 21 interventional studies indexed under Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary.
Browse Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary studies →Columbia University is the lead sponsor of 1,103 studies on the registry; 193 are open to participants now.
Of its 172 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 142 (83%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion criteria:
Hereditary Cancer screenings testing and Obstetric Cancer Screening
Device: Natera empower comprehensive hereditary cancer panel · Device: Obstetrical carrier screening
Obstetric Cancer screening test only
Device: Obstetrical carrier screening
Natera Empower Comprehensive Hereditary Cancer Panel to screen for hereditary cancers
Obstetrical carrier screening for genetic conditions
Percentage of Participants Who Complete Both HCS and OCS
The percent of patients who complete hereditary cancer screening (HCS) when offered in addition to routine obstetrical carrier screening (OCS) during preconception and obstetrical-related care.
Time frame: Approximately at the end of recruitment, expected at 2 years
Score on Regret About Healthcare Decisions survey
Participant experience with combined HCS and OCS will be assessed using a validated Regret About Healthcare Decisions Survey. The minimum score is 0 (lowest regret) to 100 (highest regret).
Time frame: 2 to 6 months after enrollment
Score on Regret About Healthcare Decisions Survey among pregnant participants
Assessment of participant experience with combined OCS and HCS in pregnant participants using Regret About Healthcare Decisions Survey and qualitative interviews. The minimum score is 0 (lowest regret) to 100 (highest regret).
Time frame: Approximately at the end of recruitment, expected at 2 years
Score on Regret About Healthcare Decisions Survey among nonpregnant participants
Assessment of participant experience with combined OCS and HCS in nonpregnant participants using Regret About Healthcare Decisions Survey and qualitative interviews. The minimum score is 0 (lowest regret) to 100 (highest regret).
Time frame: Approximately at the end of recruitment, expected at 2 years
Hereditary cancer screening results
Number of pathologic variants identified by hereditary cancer screening.
Time frame: Approximately at the end of recruitment, expected at 2 years
Percentage of High-Risk Participants Utilizing Guideline-Based Cancer Mitigation Strategies
Among participants who complete both HCS and OCS and are identified as being at elevated cancer risk, this measure captures the percentage who undergo one or more guideline-based cancer mitigation strategies, such as mammogram, breast MRI, or colonoscopy.
Time frame: 18 months after enrollment
Percentage of Participants Who Complete Both HCS and OCS during pregnancy
The percent of patients who complete hereditary cancer screening (HCS) when offered in addition to routine obstetrical carrier screening (OCS) while pregnant.
Time frame: Approximately at the end of recruitment, expected at 2 years
Plan to share: Undecided
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