INTERACT Supports Updated NCCN Guidelines that Expand Access to Appropriate Hereditary Cancer Genetic Testing

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Inter-Organization Cancer Genetics Clinical Evidence Coalition (INTERACT) applauds the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for its newest updates to the Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, Endometrial, Esophageal, and Gastric cancers guidelines, and the Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors guidelines. Together, these updates represent a significant advancement in the identification of individuals with hereditary cancer risk and expand access to evidence-based genetic testing for patients and families impacted by colorectal, endometrial, esophageal, gastric, neuroendocrine, and adrenal cancers.

Hereditary cancer genetic testing plays a critical role in identifying individuals with inherited cancer predisposition syndromes. When risk is identified, patients and their families can pursue tailored surveillance, preventive options, and, in some cases, targeted therapies that significantly improve clinical outcomes.

By broadening recommendations for hereditary cancer assessment across these disease areas, the NCCN continues to help more patients and families access the genetic information needed to guide the most clinically- and cost-effective treatment decisions, cancer surveillance, and preventive care.

Key updates in the new guidelines include:

• Expanded access to genetic testing for colorectal and endometrial cancer patients. NCCN now recommends multigene panel testing (MGPT) for all individuals diagnosed with colorectal or endometrial cancer, regardless of age or family history. 
• Broader testing recommendations for gastric cancer patients. NCCN also recommends multigene panel testing for all patients diagnosed with gastric cancer regardless of age or family history, further expanding access to hereditary cancer risk assessment.
• Inclusion of recommendations for esophageal cancer, with new sections for esophageal cancer screening, risk evaluation, and genetic testing.
• Earlier genetic testing in the care journey. The updated guidelines identify multigene panel testing as the clinically and economically preferred approach, supporting earlier evaluation for hereditary cancer risk rather than delaying testing until additional tumor screening results are available.
• Creation and expansion of a dedicated hereditary cancer risk assessment section within the Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors Guidelines, emphasizing the importance of genetic counseling, germline testing, and syndrome-specific surveillance across neuroendocrine and adrenal tumors.
• Broader recommendations for genetic risk evaluation and testing for patients with neuroendocrine and adrenal tumors, including considering testing patients with thymic neuroendocrine tumors diagnosed at any age.

NCCN Guidelines are widely recognized as the gold standard for clinical decision-making in oncology. Developed by multidisciplinary panels of experts, these recommendations guide patient care, inform clinical workflows, and shape insurance coverage decisions across the United States.

"We are encouraged to see NCCN continue to evolve its guidelines to reflect the growing body of evidence supporting broader access to hereditary cancer genetic testing," said Lisa Schlager, Vice President of Public Policy for FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered. "These updates, particularly the inclusion of expanded considerations for esophageal and gastric cancers, will help ensure more at-risk individuals are identified earlier and connected with appropriate preventive and treatment strategies."

"These updates will help more patients and their families learn they carry hereditary cancer risk before it's too late to act on it," said Robin Dubin, Executive Director of AliveandKick'n. "Earlier, broader genetic testing means earlier surveillance and prevention, and for the families we serve, that can be the difference between catching cancer early and facing a late-stage diagnosis. We're grateful NCCN continues to follow the evidence."

ABOUT INTERACT

INTERACT is a coalition dedicated to advancing evidence-based access to genetic testing for individuals with or at risk of hereditary cancers. By supporting updates such as these, the coalition aims to improve outcomes through earlier detection, targeted interventions, and informed family risk assessment.

The INTERACT coalition includes leading industry organizations—Ambry Genetics, Illumina, Myriad Genetics, Natera, Quest Diagnostics, and My Gene Counsel—as well as patient advocacy groups including AlivendKick'n, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer, My Faulty Gene, Colon Cancer Coalition, TOUCH4LIFE^®, and ZERO Prostate Cancer. Together, these organizations advocate for equitable access to genetic testing and work to advance clinical guidelines that reflect current scientific evidence.

CONTACTS

You can contact INTERACT here.

SOURCE INTERACT Coalition