Invitae, a genetic information company, has announced that it now offers multi-gene testing for hereditary pancreatic cancer, providing clinicians with a reliable, fast and affordable option for their cancer patients and their families.

With results typically available within three weeks, this panel includes an analysis of 17 genes and currently is the most comprehensive panel available. The test is available globally and at a contracted price of $1,500 in the US.

The new Invitae Hereditary Pancreatic Cancer Panel covers the genetic associations most commonly linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer and includes the following genes: APC, ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CDKN2A, EPCAM, FANCC, MEN1, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PALB2, PALLD, PMS2, STK11, TP53 and VHL.

In addition, Invitae offers hereditary pancreatitis genes CFTR and SPINK1, which some providers choose when assessing a patient for hereditary pancreatic cancer. These genes can be included in an Invitae requisition at no additional charge.

Additional hereditary cancer panels are available, including testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2, Lynch Syndrome and other colon cancers, and a 29-gene hereditary cancer syndromes panel.

In addition to covering more genes than tests available from other providers, Invitae’s newest cancer panel provides clinicians and patients with answers more rapidly, at a lower cost.

Invitae’s Federico Monzon said that the company’s new pancreatic cancer panel delivers greater genetic information and thus provides healthcare providers with an important tool to help address the clinical challenges of detecting hereditary pancreatic cancer and managing treatment decisions.

"The release of this new panel enables us to help address a new group of patients who may be at risk for pancreatic cancer with a test that is not only reliable, but affordable and provides rapid results," Monzon added.