Hereditary Neoplastic Syndromes

Selected individuals suspected of having or with prior biopsy proof of malignant disease will be seen in the Urologic Oncology Branch, NCI. Blood samples may be collected at the time of the initial visit and at periodic intervals during the course of the disease. These samples will be stored in the tissue bank of the Urologic Oncology Branch. Aliquots of malignant and normal tissue will be collected at the time of surgery and stored in the tissue bank, Urologic Oncology Branch, NCI. These materials will be used in the research efforts of the Urologic Oncology Branch, NCI.

Undergoing a cancer genetic testing pathway and receiving results regarding a personal or familial cancer predisposition can generate substantial, multifaceted psycho-emotional distress for patients. While professional psychological support is strongly recommended in clinical guidelines, very few studies have formally quantified its actual contribution to the longitudinal psycho-emotional experiences of patients within real-world clinical practices. The primary objective of the PsyOncoGen study is to describe the longitudinal psycho-emotional trajectories of patients within the routine care pathway. It evaluates the clinical impact of psychological support by observing the natural outcomes of patients who choose to accept this systematically offered service versus those who choose to decline it. The study will follow 220 adult patients across two natural cohorts determined solely by patient choice: 110 patients utilising the clinical psychological support and 110 patients declining it.