The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), with support from the Association of Cancer Physicians (ACP), has developed a brand new e-learning resource on the Fundamentals of Cancer Genomics, targeted at clinical and medical oncologists as well as healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with cancer. The resource seeks to address the growing knowledge gap in this rapidly evolving area of clinical practice.
This educational resource has been designed in a flexible and supportive format for clinicians at all stages of their career. Access is free until August 2023 via an active RCR web account, but you are not required to be a member of the Royal College of Radiologists or the Association of Cancer Physicians.
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These modules have been designed to complement existing resources, supplementing support for the new ‘mainstreaming’ delivery model of germline genetic testing whereby clinicians counsel and consent high-risk patients for genetic testing at the time of their routine oncology appointments.
Who is this for?
Healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with cancer, including but not limited to:
- Clinical oncologists
- Medical oncologists
- Pharmacists
- Pathologists
- Nurses working in cancer care or cancer research
- Cancer researchers (Clinical academics or research scientists)
- Clinicians working in primary care with a specialist interest in cancer medicine
These interactive, bite-size modules are the first in what will be a series of genomics learning resources with focus on various tumour types. Look out for further details to be released in the coming months via the RCR’s channels.
The course will complement existing medical oncology, clinical oncology, and allied health professional training schemes and clinical experience, to give clinicians a deeper understanding of the molecular biology of cancer, germline predisposition to cancer, and the role of genetic variation in initiation and promotion of cancer.
A unique aspect of this course is that the content will not only address heritable genetic risk factors for cancer but will also emphasise the translational application of somatic and/or genomic results in diagnostics and prognostication, as well as in directing treatment.
Course learning objectives
The first stream of modules will be an introduction to cancer genomics. The content covered in each module will enable learners to:
Module 1 – Fundamentals of cancer genomics
- To describe how genomic information is stored
- To outline different types of chromosomal and genetic variants
- To explain patterns of genomic evolution of cancer
- To outline basis mutation signature profiling
- To define tumour mutation burden
- To distinguish between somatic variants and variants of germline-origin
Module 2 – Variant interpretation
- To describe consequences of misattribution of pathogenicity to germline genetic variants
- To differentiate between clinically actionable and non-actionable germline variants
- To explain the lines of evidence applied for variant classification
- To correctly interpret variant reports and appraise evidence applied for variant classification
- To distinguish between low, moderate and highly penetrant variants of germline origin
- To classify somatic variants in terms of actionability
- To define mosaicism
Module 3 – Molecular phenotyping for cancer care– technologies and practical considerations
- To justify use of different sample types for genetic testing in different clinical scenarios
- To outline steps involved in sanger and next generation sequencing
- To describe uses and limitations of liquid biopsies in cancer care
- To differentiate between MMR deficiency, microsatellite instability, hypermutation and PDL1 expression
- To describe the relevance of MMR deficiency, microsatellite instability, hypermutation and PDL1 expression in immunotherapy response
Module 4 – NHS England Genomic medicine service and National Genomic Test Directory
- To describe reconfiguration of NHS lab services
- To navigate the NHS genomic directory
CPD
Completion of each module will allow you to claim CPD credits for the allocated study time. Additional credits for RCR members can be achieved by completing the reflection and impact form on their e-learning journal on the RCR Learning hub.
Course project group
The multidisciplinary project team consists of:
- Dr Frances Yuille, Clinical Oncologist, Edinburgh Cancer Centre
- Dr Ellen Copson, Cancer Research UK Associate Professor University of Southampton and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Terri McVeigh, Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Clinical Lead Postgraduate Certificate in Cancer Genetics, RCPI
- Ms Victoria Cuthill, Clinical Manager St Mark’s Polyposis Registry, Genomics Clinical Fellow
- Dr Alison May Berner, Speciality Trainee and Clinical Research Fellow in Medical Oncology and the Barts Cancer Institute, and Specialist Registrar in Gender Identity at the Gender Identity Clinic, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Nida Pasha, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
- Ms Natalie McGregor, Learning Executive, RCR
- Ms Amelia Etan, Education Projects Manager, RCR
- Ms Louise Leon-Andrews, Training Quality and Curriculum Officer, RCR
- Mr Philip Wallace, Learning Technologist, RCR
Content developed in partnership with:
This activity has been supported by a grant from Roche Products Limited and a grant from Astrazeneca. Roche Products Limited and Astrazeneca have had no control over the educational content of this activity.
