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Horizon BCBSNJ
Uniform Medical Policy ManualSection:Pathology
Policy Number:121
Effective Date: 08/01/2017
Original Policy Date:03/24/2015
Last Review Date:03/10/2020
Date Published to Web: 04/03/2017
Subject:
Genetic Testing for PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome

Description:
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IMPORTANT NOTE:

The purpose of this policy is to provide general information applicable to the administration of health benefits that Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Horizon Healthcare of New Jersey, Inc. (collectively “Horizon BCBSNJ”) insures or administers. If the member’s contract benefits differ from the medical policy, the contract prevails. Although a service, supply or procedure may be medically necessary, it may be subject to limitations and/or exclusions under a member’s benefit plan. If a service, supply or procedure is not covered and the member proceeds to obtain the service, supply or procedure, the member may be responsible for the cost. Decisions regarding treatment and treatment plans are the responsibility of the physician. This policy is not intended to direct the course of clinical care a physician provides to a member, and it does not replace a physician’s independent professional clinical judgment or duty to exercise special knowledge and skill in the treatment of Horizon BCBSNJ members. Horizon BCBSNJ is not responsible for, does not provide, and does not hold itself out as a provider of medical care. The physician remains responsible for the quality and type of health care services provided to a Horizon BCBSNJ member.

Horizon BCBSNJ medical policies do not constitute medical advice, authorization, certification, approval, explanation of benefits, offer of coverage, contract or guarantee of payment.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) includes several syndromes with heterogeneous clinical symptoms, which may place individuals at an increased risk for the development of certain types of cancer. Genetic testing for PTEN can confirm a diagnosis of PHTS.

PopulationsInterventionsComparatorsOutcomes
Individuals:
  • With clinical signs and/or symptoms of a PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome
Interventions of interest are:
  • Genetic testing for PTEN
Comparators of interest are:
  • Standard clinical management without genetic testing
Relevant outcomes include:
  • Overall survival
  • Disease-specific survival
  • Test accuracy
  • Test validity
  • Morbid events
Individuals:
  • Who are asymptomatic with a first-degree relative with a PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome and a known familial variant
Interventions of interest are:
  • Targeted genetic testing for a PTEN familial variant
Comparators of interest are:
  • Standard clinical management without genetic testing
Relevant outcomes include:
  • Overall survival
  • Disease-specific survival
  • Test accuracy
  • Test validity
  • Morbid events

BACKGROUND

PTEN hamartoma tumor Syndromes

PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is characterized by hamartomatous tumors and PTEN germline disease-associated variants. Clinically, PHTS includes Cowden syndrome (CS), Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), PTEN-related Proteus syndrome (PS), and Proteus-like syndrome (PLS).

CS is a multiple hamartoma syndrome with a high-risk for benign and malignant tumors of the thyroid, breast, and endometrium. Affected individuals usually have macrocephaly, trichilemmomas, and papillomatous papules and present by age late 20s. The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 85%, with an average age of diagnosis between 38 and 46 years.1, The lifetime risk for thyroid cancer, usually follicular carcinoma, is approximately 35%. The risk for endometrial cancer is not well-defined, but may approach 28%.1, A 2012 study included 3399 prospectively recruited individuals who met relaxed International Cowden Consortium PHTS criteria; 368 were found to have PTEN disease-associated variants.2, Estimated lifetime cancer risks were: 85.2% for breast (95% confidence interval [CI], 71.4% to 99.1%); 35.2% for thyroid; (95% CI, 19.7% to 50.7%); 28.2% for endometrium (95% CI, 17.1% to 39.3%); 9.0% for colorectal (95% CI, 3.8% to 14.1%); 33.6% for kidney (95% CI, 10.4% to 56.9%); and 6% for melanoma (95% CI, 1.6% to 9.4%). A 2013 study of 154 individuals with a PTEN disease-associated variant found cumulative cancer risks at age 70 of 85% (95% CI, 70% to 95%) for any cancer, 77% (95% CI, 59% to 91%) for female breast cancer, and 38% (95% CI, 25% to 56%) for thyroid cancer.3,

BRRS is characterized by macrocephaly, intestinal hamartomatous polyposis, lipomas, and pigmented macules of the glans penis. Additional features include high birth weight, developmental delay and mental deficiency (50% of affected individuals), a myopathic process in proximal muscles (60%), joint hyperextensibility, pectus excavatum, and scoliosis (50%).

PS is a complex, highly variable disorder involving congenital malformations and hamartomatous overgrowth of multiple tissues, as well as connective tissue nevi, epidermal nevi, and hyperostoses.

PLS is undefined but refers to individuals with significant clinical features of PS who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for PS.

CS is the only PHTS disorder associated with a documented predisposition to cancer; however, it has been suggested that patients with other PHTS diagnoses associated with PTEN variants should be assumed to have cancer risks similar to CS.

Clinical Diagnosis

A presumptive diagnosis of PHTS is based on clinical findings; however, because of the phenotypic heterogeneity associated with the hamartoma syndromes, the diagnosis of PHTS is made only when a PTEN disease-associated variant is identified.

Diagnostic Criteria for CS

The International Cowden Consortium has developed criteria for diagnosing CS (see Table 1).4,

Table 1. Diagnostic Criteria for Cowden Syndromea
Diagnostic Criteria
Pathognomonic criteria
Lhermitte-Duclos disease adult defined as the presence of a cerebellar dysplastic gangliocytoma

Mucocutaneous lesions:

Trichilemmomas, facial

Acral keratoses

Papillomatous lesions

Major criteria
Breast cancer

Thyroid cancer (papillary or follicular)

Macrocephaly (occipital frontal circumference ≥97th percentile)

Endometrial cancer

Minor criteria
Other structural thyroid lesions (eg, adenoma, multinodular goiter)

Mental retardation (ie, IQ ≤75)

Gastrointestinal hamartomas

Fibrocystic disease of the breast

Lipomas

Fibromas

Genitourinary tumors (eg, uterine fibroids, renal cell carcinoma) or

Genitourinary structural malformations

Operational diagnosis in an individual
Any of the following:

1. Mucocutaneous lesions alone if:

There are 6 or more facial papules, of which 3 or more must be trichilemmoma, or

Cutaneous facial papules and oral mucosal papillomatosis, or

Oral mucosal papillomatosis and acral keratoses, or

Palmoplantar keratoses, 6 or more

2. Two or more major criteria, but one must include macrocephaly or Lhermitte-Duclos disease; or

3. One major and 3 minor criteria; or

4. Four minor criteria.

Operational diagnosis in a family with a diagnosis of Cowden syndrome
1. One pathognomonic criterion; or

2. Any 1 major criterion with or without minor criteria; or

3. Two minor criteria; or

4. History of Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome

Adapted from Blumenthal et al (2008).4,
a
 These criteria for diagnosing Cowden syndrome have been adopted by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

In 2013, a systematic review assessed the clinical features reported in individuals with a PTEN disease-associated variant, and proposed revised diagnostic criteria.5, Reviewers concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support inclusion of benign breast disease, uterine fibroids, or genitourinary malformations as diagnostic criteria. There was sufficient evidence to include autism spectrum disorders, colon cancer, esophageal glycogenic acanthosis, penile macules, renal cell carcinoma, testicular lipomatosis, and vascular anomalies, and these clinical features are included in CS testing minor criteria in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines on genetic/familial high-risk assessment of breast and ovarian (v.1.2018).6,

Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome

Diagnostic criteria for BRRS have not been established. Current diagnostic practices are based heavily on the presence of the cardinal features of macrocephaly, hamartomatous intestinal polyposis, lipomas, and pigmented macules of the glans penis.

Proteus Syndrome

PS appears to affect individuals in a mosaic distribution (ie, only some organs/tissues are affected). Thus, it is frequently misdiagnosed, despite the development of consensus diagnostic criteria. Mandatory general criteria for diagnosis include mosaic distribution of lesions, progressive course, and sporadic occurrence. Additional specific criteria for diagnosis as listed in Table 2.7,

Table 2. Diagnostic Criteria for Proteus Syndrome
Additional Diagnostic Criteria
Connective tissue nevi (pathognomonic) OR 2 of the following:
Epidermal nevus
Disproportionate overgrowth (1 or more):

·  Limbs: arms/legs; hands/feet/digits

·  Skull: hyperostoses

·  External auditory meatus: hyperostosis

·  Vertebrae: megaspondylodysplasia

·  Viscera: spleen/thymus

Specific tumors before end of second decade (either one):

·  Bilateral ovarian cystadenomas

·  Parotid monomorphic adenoma

OR 3 of the following:
Dysregulated adipose tissue (either one):

·  Lipomas

·  Regional absence of fat

Vascular malformations (1 or more):

·  Capillary malformation

·  Venous malformation

·  Lymphatic malformation

Facial phenotype:

·  Dolichocephaly

·  Long face

·  Minor downslanting of palpebral fissures and/or minor ptosis

·  Low nasal bridge

·  Wide or anteverted nares

·  Open mouth at rest

Adapted from Biesecker (2006).7,

Proteus-Like Syndrome

PLS is undefined but describes individuals with significant clinical features of PS not meeting the diagnostic criteria.

Molecular Diagnosis

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) is a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 10q23 and is a dual-specificity phosphatase with multiple but incompletely understood roles in cellular regulation.8,PTEN is the only gene for which disease-associated variants are known to cause PHTS.PTEN disease-associated variants are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Most CS cases are simplex. However, because CS is likely underdiagnosed, the actual proportion of simplex cases (ie, individuals with no obvious family history) and familial cases (ie, ≥2 related affected individuals) cannot be determined. It is estimated that 50% to 90% of cases of CS are de novo and approximately 10% to 50% of individuals with CS have an affected parent.

Because of the phenotypic heterogeneity associated with the hamartoma syndromes, the diagnosis of PHTS is made only when a PTEN disease-associated variant is identified. Up to 85% of patients who meet the clinical criteria for a diagnosis of CS and 65% of patients with a clinical diagnosis of BRRS have a detectable PTEN disease-associated variant. Some data have suggested that up to 20% of patients with PS and up to 50% of patients with a PLS have PTEN disease-associated variants.

Most of these disease-associated variants can be identified by sequence analysis of the coding and flanking intronic regions of genomic DNA. A smaller number of variants are detected by deletion/duplication or promoter region analysis.

Penetrance

More than 90% of individuals with CS have some clinical manifestation of the disorder by the late 20s. By the third decade, 99% of affected individuals develop the mucocutaneous stigmata, primarily trichilemmomas and papillomatous papules, as well as acral and plantar keratoses.

Management

Treatment

Treatment of the benign and malignant manifestations of PHTS is the same as for their sporadic counterparts (ie, chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiotherapy as per usual guidelines and clinical practice).

Surveillance

The most serious consequences of a diagnosis of PHTS relates to the increased risk of cancers, including breast, thyroid, and endometrial, and, to a lesser extent, renal. Therefore, the most important aspect of management of an individual with a PTEN disease-associated variant is increased cancer surveillance to detect tumors at the earliest, most treatable stages.

Regulatory Status

Clinical laboratories may develop and validate tests in-house and market them as a laboratory service; laboratory-developed tests must meet the general regulatory standards of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Laboratory testing for PTEN variants is available under the auspices of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Laboratories that offer laboratory-developed tests must be licensed by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments for high-complexity testing. To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has chosen not to require any regulatory review of this test.

Related Policies

  • None

Policy:
(NOTE: For services provided August 1, 2017 and after, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey collaborates with eviCore healthcare to conduct Medical Necessity Determination for certain molecular and genomic testing services for members enrolled in Horizon BCBSNJ fully insured products as well as Administrative Services Only (ASO) accounts that have elected to participate in the Molecular and Genomic Testing Program (“the Program”). Beginning August 1, 2017, the criteria and guidelines included in this policy apply to members enrolled in plans that have NOT elected to participate in the Program.

To access guidelines that apply for services provided August 1, 2017 and after to members enrolled in plans that HAVE elected to participate in the Program, please visit www.evicore.com/healthplan/Horizon_Lab.

For Medicare Advantage, please refer to the Medicare Coverage Section below for coverage guidance.)


I. Genetic testing for PTEN is considered medically necessary to confirm the diagnosis when a member has clinical signs of a PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome.

II. Targeted genetic testing for a PTEN familial variant is considered medically necessary in a first-degree relative of a proband with a known PTEN pathogenic variant.

III. Genetic testing for PTEN is considered investigational for all other indications.


Medicare Coverage:
There is no National Coverage Determination (NCD) for PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome. In the absence of an NCD, coverage decisions are left to the discretion of Local Medicare Carriers.

Novitas Solutions, Inc, the Local Medicare Carrier for jurisdiction JL, has determined that this service is covered when LCD L35396 criteria is met. Please refer to Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Biomarkers for Oncology (L35396) for additional information and eligibility. Available to be accessed at Novitas Solutions, Inc., Medical Policy Search page: https://www.novitas-solutions.com/webcenter/portal/MedicareJL/LcdSearch?_afrLoop=90769712476969#!%40%40%3F_afrLoop%3D90769712476969%26centerWidth%3D100%2525%26leftWidth%3D0%2525%26rightWidth%3D0%2525%26showFooter%3Dfalse%26showHeader%3Dfalse%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D63y7eftob_46

There is no NCD or LCD for RNAinsight™ ColoNext®, (Ambry Genetics, CA) (CPT code 0130u). Therefore, Medicare Advantage Products will follow the Horizon BCBSNJ Medical Policy for CPT code 0130u.

Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Biomarkers for Oncology (A52986). Available to be accessed at Novitas Solutions, Inc., Medical Policy Search page: https://www.novitas-solutions.com/webcenter/portal/MedicareJL/pagebyid?contentId=00024370.

PROPRIETARY LABS (Labs that are the sole source for the diagnostic lab test)
For labs which are proprietary (that is, the sole source for the diagnostic lab test involved), Medicare Advantage Products will follow the Medicare Local Coverage Determination of the State where the proprietary lab is located.


Policy Guidelines: (Information to guide medical necessity determination based on the criteria contained within the policy statements above.)

Testing Strategy to Confirm a Diagnosis in a Proband
The order of testing to optimize yield would be (1) sequencing of PTEN exons 1-9 and flanking intronic regions. If no disease-associated variant is identified, perform (2) deletion/duplication analysis. If no disease-associated variant is identified, consider (3) promoter analysis, which detects disease-associated variants in approximately 10% of individuals with Cowden syndrome who do not have an identifiable disease-associated variant in the PTEN coding region.

Testing a First-Degree Relative
When a PTEN disease-associated variant has been identified in the proband, testing of asymptomatic at-risk relatives can identify those family members who have the familial variant, for whom an initial evaluation and ongoing surveillance should be performed.

Genetics Nomenclature Update
The Human Genome Variation Society nomenclature is used to report information on variants found in DNA and serves as an international standard in DNA diagnostics. It is being implemented for genetic testing medical policy updates starting in 2017 (see Table PG1). The Society’s nomenclature is recommended by the Human Variome Project, the HUman Genome Organization, and by the Human Genome Variation Society itself.

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology standards and guidelines for interpretation of sequence variants represent expert opinion from both organizations, in addition to the College of American Pathologists. These recommendations primarily apply to genetic tests used in clinical laboratories, including genotyping, single genes, panels, exomes, and genomes. Table PG2 shows the recommended standard terminology—“pathogenic,” “likely pathogenic,” “uncertain significance,” “likely benign,” and “benign”—to describe variants identified that cause Mendelian disorders.

Table PG1. Nomenclature to Report on Variants Found in DNA
Previous
Updated
Definition
MutationDisease-associated variantDisease-associated change in the DNA sequence
VariantChange in the DNA sequence
Familial variantDisease-associated variant identified in a proband for use in subsequent targeted genetic testing in first-degree relatives
Table PG2. ACMG-AMP Standards and Guidelines for Variant Classification
Variant Classification
Definition
PathogenicDisease-causing change in the DNA sequence
Likely pathogenicLikely disease-causing change in the DNA sequence
Variant of uncertain significanceChange in DNA sequence with uncertain effects on disease
Likely benignLikely benign change in the DNA sequence
BenignBenign change in the DNA sequence
American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics; AMP: Association for Molecular Pathology.

Genetic Counseling
Experts recommend formal genetic counseling for patients who are at risk for inherited disorders and who wish to undergo genetic testing. Interpreting the results of genetic tests and understanding risk factors can be difficult for some patients; genetic counseling helps individuals understand the impact of genetic testing, including the possible effects the test results could have on the individual or their family members. It should be noted that genetic counseling may alter the utilization of genetic testing substantially and may reduce inappropriate testing; further, genetic counseling should be performed by an individual with experience and expertise in genetic medicine and genetic testing methods.


[RATIONALE: This policy was created in 2015 and has been updated regularly with searches of the MEDLINE database. The most recent literature update was performed through December 10, 2018.

Evidence reviews assess whether a medical test is clinically useful. A useful test provides information to make a clinical management decision that improves the net health outcome. That is, the balance of benefits and harms is better when the test is used to manage the condition than when another test or no test is used to manage the condition.

The first step in assessing a medical test is to formulate the clinical context and purpose of the test. The test must be technically reliable, clinically valid, and clinically useful for that purpose. Evidence reviews assess the evidence on whether a test is clinically valid and clinically useful. Technical reliability is outside the scope of these reviews, and credible information on technical reliability is available from other sources.

Testing in Patients with Signs and/or Symptoms of PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome

Clinical Context and Test Purpose

The purpose of genetic testing of patients who have signs and/or symptoms of PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is to confirm a diagnosis and inform management decisions such as increased cancer surveillance.

The question addressed in this policy is: Does genetic testing improve health outcomes in individuals with signs and/or symptoms of PHTS?

The following PICOTS were used to select literature to inform this review.

Patients

The relevant population of interest is patients with clinical signs and/or symptoms of a PHTS.

Interventions

The test being considered is genetic testing for PTEN.

Comparators

The following practices are currently being used: standard clinical management without genetic testing for PTEN.

Outcomes

The potential beneficial outcomes of primary interest would be improvements in overall survival and disease-specific survival and reductions in morbid events. Increased cancer surveillance in patients with a PTEN pathogenic variant is initiated to detect the presence of cancer at earlier and more treatable stages.

Potential harmful outcomes are those resulting from a false-positive or false-negative test. False-positive test results can lead to unnecessary cancer surveillance procedures (eg, invasive biopsies). False-negative test results can lead to lack of cancer surveillance that might detect cancer at earlier and more treatable stages.

Timing

The primary outcomes of interest are the initiation and frequency of cancer surveillance to affect short-term and long-term survival rates after cancer detection.

Setting

Patients may be referred from primary care to an oncologist or medical geneticist for investigation and management of PHTS. Referral for genetic counseling is important for explanation of genetic disease, heritability, genetic risk, test performance, and possible outcomes.

Simplifying Test Terms

There are 3 core characteristics for assessing a medical test. Whether imaging, laboratory, or other, all medical tests must be:

·         Technically reliable

·         Clinically valid

·         Clinically useful.

Because different specialties may use different terms for the same concept, we are highlighting the core characteristics. The core characteristics also apply to different uses of tests, such as diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring treatment.

Diagnostic tests detect presence or absence of a condition. Surveillance and treatment monitoring are essentially diagnostic tests over a time frame. Surveillance to see whether a condition develops or progresses is a type of detection. Treatment monitoring is also a type of detection because the purpose is to see if treatment is associated with the disappearance, regression, or progression of the condition.

Prognostic tests predict the risk of developing a condition in the future. Tests to predict response to therapy are also prognostic. Response to therapy is a type of condition and can be either a beneficial response or adverse response. The term predictive test is often used to refer to response to therapy. To simplify terms, we use prognostic to refer both to predicting a future condition or to predicting a response to therapy.

Technically Reliable

Assessment of technical reliability focuses on specific tests and operators and requires review of unpublished and often proprietary information. Review of specific tests, operators, and unpublished data are outside the scope of this policy and alternative sources exist. This policy focuses on the clinical validity and clinical utility.

The order of testing to optimize yield would be (1) sequencing of PTEN exons 1-9 and flanking intronic regions. If no disease-associated variant is identified, perform (2) deletion and duplication analysis. If no disease-associated variant is identified, consider (3) promoter analysis.

Clinically Useful

A test must detect the presence or absence of a condition, the risk of developing a condition in the future, or treatment response (beneficial or adverse).

Many reports on the prevalence of the features of Cowden syndrome (CS) and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS) have been based on data compiled from case reports and studies of small cohorts. Most of these reports were published before adoption of the International Cowden Consortium diagnostic criteria for CS in 1996 (see Table 1), and the true frequencies of the clinical features in CS and BRRS are unknown.8,

According to a large reference laboratory, the clinical sensitivity of PTEN-related disorder sequencing is 80% for CS, 60% for BRRS, 20% for PTEN-related Proteus syndrome, and 50% for Proteus-like syndrome. For PTEN-related deletions and duplications, it is up to 10% for BRRS and unknown for CS, Proteus syndrome, and Proteus-like syndrome.9,

Germline PTEN disease-associated variants have been identified in approximately 80% of patients meeting diagnostic criteria for CS and in 50% to 60% of patients with a diagnosis of BRRS, using sequencing analysis using polymerase chain reaction of the coding and flanking intronic regions of the gene.10,11,Marsh et al (1998) screened DNA from 37 CS families, and PTEN disease-associated variants were identified in 30 (81%) of 37 CS families, including single nucleotide variants, insertions, and deletions.10, Whether the remaining patients have undetected PTEN disease-associated variants or disease-associated variants in other, unidentified genes, is unknown.12,

A study by Pilarski et al (2011) determined the clinical features most predictive of a disease-associated variant in a cohort of patients undergoing PTEN testing.8, Molecular and clinical data were reviewed for 802 patients referred for PTEN analysis to a single laboratory. All patients were classified by whether they met revised International Cowden Consortium diagnostic criteria. Two hundred thirty of the 802 patients met diagnostic criteria for CS. Of these, 79 had a PTEN disease-associated variant, for a detection rate of 34%. The authors commented that this disease-associated variant frequency was significantly lower than previously reported, possibly suggesting that the clinical diagnostic criteria for CS are not as robust at identifying patients with germline PTEN disease-associated variants as previously thought. In their study, of the patients meeting diagnostic criteria for BRRS, 23 (55%) of 42 had a disease-associated variant, and 7 (78%) of 9 patients with diagnostic criteria for both CS and BRRS had a disease-associated variant, consistent with the literature.

Section Summary: Clinically Valid

Evidence from several small studies has indicated that the clinical sensitivity of genetic testing for PTEN may be highly variable. This may reflect the phenotypic heterogeneity of the syndromes and an inherent referral bias because patients with more clinical features of CS and BRRS are more likely to get tested. The true clinical specificity is uncertain because the syndrome is defined by the disease-associated variant.

Clinically Useful

A test is clinically useful if the use of the results informs management decisions that improve the net health outcome of care. The net health outcome can be improved if patients receive correct therapy, or more effective therapy, or avoid unnecessary therapy, or avoid unnecessary testing.

Direct Evidence

Direct evidence of clinical utility is provided by studies that have compared health outcomes for patients managed with and without the test. Because these are intervention studies, the preferred evidence would be from randomized controlled trials.

The clinical utility for patients with suspected PHTS depends on the ability of genetic testing to make a definitive diagnosis and for that diagnosis to lead to management changes that improve outcomes. There is no direct evidence for the clinical utility of genetic testing in these patients because no studies were identified describing how a molecular diagnosis of PHTS changed patient management.

Chain of Evidence

Indirect evidence on clinical utility rests on clinical validity. If the evidence is insufficient to demonstrate test performance, no inferences can be made about clinical utility.

For patients diagnosed with PHTS by identifying a PTEN disease-associated variant, the medical management focuses on increased cancer surveillance to detect tumors at the earlier, more treatable stages.

Section Summary: Clinically Useful

Direct evidence of the clinical utility of PTEN testing is lacking. However, the clinical utility of genetic testing for PTEN is that genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis in patients with clinical signs and/or symptoms of PHTS. Management changes include increased surveillance for the cancers associated with these syndromes.

Familial variant testing of asymptomatic individuals

Clinical Context and Test Purpose

The purpose of familial variant testing of asymptomatic individuals with a first-degree relative with a PHTS is to screen for the family-specific pathogenic variant to inform management decisions (eg, increased cancer surveillance) or to exclude asymptomatic individuals from increased cancer surveillance.

The question addressed in this policy is: Does genetic testing improve health outcomes in asymptomatic individuals with a first-degree relative who has a PHTS?

The following PICOTS were used to select literature to inform this review.

Patients

The relevant population of interest is asymptomatic individuals with a first-degree relative who has a PHTS.

Interventions

The test being considered is targeted genetic testing for a PTEN familial variant.

Comparators

The following practices are currently being used: standard clinical management without targeted genetic testing for a PTEN familial variant.

Outcomes

The potential beneficial outcomes of primary interest would be improvement in overall survival and disease-specific survival and reductions in morbid events. Increased cancer surveillance in patients with a PTEN familial variant is initiated to detect the presence of cancer at earlier and more treatable stages. Asymptomatic individuals who test negative for a PTEN familial variant can be excluded from increased cancer surveillance.

The potential harmful outcomes are those resulting from a false-positive or false-negative test. False-positive test results can lead to unnecessary cancer surveillance procedures (eg, invasive biopsies). False-negative test results can lead to lack of cancer surveillance that may detect cancer at earlier and more treatable stages.

Timing

The primary outcomes of interest are the initiation and frequency of cancer surveillance to affect short-term and long-term survival rates after cancer detection.

Setting

Asymptomatic individuals may be referred from primary care to an oncologist or medical geneticist if a PTEN familial variant is identified. Referral for genetic counseling is important for explanation of genetic disease, heritability, genetic risk, test performance, and possible outcomes. If targeted genetic testing for a familial variant is negative, the asymptomatic individual can be excluded from increased cancer surveillance.

Technically Reliable

Assessment of technical reliability focuses on specific tests and operators and requires review of unpublished and often proprietary information. Review of specific tests, operators, and unpublished data are outside the scope of this policy and alternative sources exist. This policy focuses on the clinical validity and clinical utility.

Clinically Valid

A test must detect the presence or absence of a condition, the risk of developing a condition in the future, or treatment response (beneficial or adverse).

See the discussion in the previous section for patients with sign and/or symptoms of PHTS.

Clinically Useful

A test is clinically useful if the use of the results informs management decisions that improve the net health outcome of care. The net health outcome can be improved if patients receive correct therapy, or more effective therapy, or avoid unnecessary therapy, or avoid unnecessary testing.

Direct Evidence

Direct evidence of clinical utility is provided by studies that have compared health outcomes for patients managed with and without the test. Because these are intervention studies, the preferred evidence would be from randomized controlled trials.

No randomized controlled trials were identified assessing the clinical usefulness of testing asymptomatic individuals with a first-degree relative who has a diagnosis of PHTS.

Chain of Evidence

Indirect evidence on clinical utility rests on clinical validity. If the evidence is insufficient to demonstrate test performance, no inferences can be made about clinical utility.

When a PTEN disease-associated variant has been identified in a proband, testing of first-degree relatives can identify those who also have the familial variant and PHTS. These individuals require an initial evaluation and ongoing cancer surveillance. Alternatively, first-degree relatives who test negative for the familial variant would not require ongoing cancer surveillance.

Section Summary: Clinically Useful

Direct evidence of the clinical utility of familial variant testing in asymptomatic individuals is lacking. However, for first-degree relatives of PHTS in affected individuals, a positive test for a familial variant would confirm the diagnosis of PHTS and result in ongoing cancer surveillance. A negative test for a familial variant would reduce unnecessary cancer surveillance.

Summary of Evidence

For individuals who have clinical signs and/or symptoms of a PHTS or who are asymptomatic with a first-degree relative with a PHTS and a known familial variant who receive genetic testing for a PTEN familial variant, the evidence includes case series and a large prospective study on the frequency of a PTENvariants in individuals meeting clinical criteria for a PHTS, and studies of cancer risk estimates in individuals with a PTEN disease-associated variant. Relevant outcomes are overall survival, disease-specific survival, test accuracy and validity, and morbid events. The published clinical validity of testing for the PTEN gene is variable. The true clinical validity is difficult to ascertain, because the syndrome is defined by the presence of a PTEN disease-associated variant. The sensitivity of tests for CS and BRRS has been reported to be up to 80% and 60%, respectively. Direct evidence of the clinical utility of genetic testing for PTEN is lacking; however, confirming a diagnosis in a patient with clinical signs of a PHTS will lead to changes in clinical management by increasing surveillance to detect cancers associated with PHTS at an early and treatable stage. Although most cases of a PHTS occur in individuals with no known family history of PHTS, testing of at-risk relatives will identify those who should also undergo increased cancer surveillance. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in a meaningful improvement in the net health outcome.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Practice Guidelines and Position statements

Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines on genetic/familial high-risk assessment for breast and ovarian cancer (v.1.2018)6, recommend the following for Cowden syndrome management (see Table 3).

Table 3. Guidelines on Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment for Breast and Ovarian Cancer
PopulationsRecommendations
Women·  Breast awareness starting at age 18 years.
 ·  Clinical breast exam every 6 to 12 months, starting at age 25 years or 5 to 10 years before the earliest known breast cancer in the family (whichever comes first).
 ·  Breast screening:
 
    o Annual mammography and breast MRI screening starting at age 30 to 35 years or 5 to 10 years before the earliest known breast cancer in family (whichever comes first).
 
    o Age >75, management should be considered on an individual basis.
 ·  For women with a PTEN mutation [disease-associated variant] who are treated for breast cancer, screening of remaining breast tissue with annual mammography and breast MRI should continue.
 ·  For endometrial cancer screening, encourage patient education and prompt response to symptoms. Consider annual random endometrial biopsies and/or ultrasound beginning at age 30 to 35 years.
 ·  Discuss risk-reducing mastectomy and hysterectomy and counsel regarding degree of protection, extent of cancer risk, and reconstructive options
Men and women·  Annual comprehensive physical exam starting at age 18 years or 5 years before the youngest age of diagnosis of a component cancer in the family (whichever comes first), with particular attention to breast and thyroid exam.
 ·  Annual thyroid ultrasound starting at the time of PHTS diagnosis.
 ·  Colonoscopy, starting at age 35 years, unless symptomatic or a close relative with colon cancer under age 40 years. Colonoscopy should be done every 5 years or more frequently if patient is symptomatic or polyps found.
 ·  Dermatologic management may be indicated for some patients.
 ·  Consider renal ultrasound starting at age 40 years, then every 1 to 2 years.
 ·  Consider psychomotor assessment in children at diagnosis and brain MRI if there are symptoms
 ·  Education regarding signs and symptoms of cancer
Relatives·  Advise about possible inherited cancer risk to relatives, options for risk assessment, and management
 ·  Recommend genetic counseling and consideration of genetic testing for at-risk relatives
Reproductive options·  For women of reproductive age, advise about options for prenatal diagnosis and assisted reproduction including preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Discussion should include known risks, limitations, and benefits of these technologies
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; PHTS: PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations

No U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for genetic testing for PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome have been identified.

Ongoing and Unpublished Clinical Trials

A search of ClinicalTrials.gov in December 2019 did not identify any ongoing or unpublished trials that would likely influence this review.]
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Horizon BCBSNJ Medical Policy Development Process:

This Horizon BCBSNJ Medical Policy (the “Medical Policy”) has been developed by Horizon BCBSNJ’s Medical Policy Committee (the “Committee”) consistent with generally accepted standards of medical practice, and reflects Horizon BCBSNJ’s view of the subject health care services, supplies or procedures, and in what circumstances they are deemed to be medically necessary or experimental/ investigational in nature. This Medical Policy also considers whether and to what degree the subject health care services, supplies or procedures are clinically appropriate, in terms of type, frequency, extent, site and duration and if they are considered effective for the illnesses, injuries or diseases discussed. Where relevant, this Medical Policy considers whether the subject health care services, supplies or procedures are being requested primarily for the convenience of the covered person or the health care provider. It may also consider whether the services, supplies or procedures are more costly than an alternative service or sequence of services, supplies or procedures that are at least as likely to produce equivalent therapeutic or diagnostic results as to the diagnosis or treatment of the relevant illness, injury or disease. In reaching its conclusion regarding what it considers to be the generally accepted standards of medical practice, the Committee reviews and considers the following: all credible scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community, physician and health care provider specialty society recommendations, the views of physicians and health care providers practicing in relevant clinical areas (including, but not limited to, the prevailing opinion within the appropriate specialty) and any other relevant factor as determined by applicable State and Federal laws and regulations.

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Index:
Genetic Testing for PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome
PTEN, Genetic Testing
PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, Genetic Testing
Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, Genetic Testing

References:
1. Eng C. PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, et al., eds. GeneReviews. Seattle, WA: University of Washington; 2016.

2. Tan MH, Mester JL, Ngeow J, et al. Lifetime cancer risks in individuals with germline PTEN mutations. Clin Cancer Res. Jan 15 2012;18(2):400-407. PMID 22252256

3. Bubien V, Bonnet F, Brouste V, et al. High cumulative risks of cancer in patients with PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome. J Med Genet. Apr 2013;50(4):255-263. PMID 23335809

4. Blumenthal GM, Dennis PA. PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes. Eur J Hum Genet. Nov 2008;16(11):1289-1300. PMID 18781191

5. Pilarski R, Burt R, Kohlman W, et al. Cowden syndrome and the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: systematic review and revised diagnostic criteria. J Natl Cancer Inst. Nov 6 2013;105(21):1607-1616. PMID 24136893

6. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: Genetic/familial high risk assessment: breast and ovarian. Version 1.2018. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/genetics_screening.pdf. Accessed January 29, 2018.

7. Biesecker L. The challenges of Proteus syndrome: diagnosis and management. Eur J Hum Genet. Nov 2006;14(11):1151-1157. PMID 16883308

8. Pilarski R, Stephens JA, Noss R, et al. Predicting PTEN mutations: an evaluation of Cowden syndrome and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome clinical features. J Med Genet. Aug 2011;48(8):505-512. PMID 21659347

9. ARUP Laboratories. Laboratory Test Directory: PTEN-Related Disorder (PTEN) Sequencing. n.d.; http://ltd.aruplab.com/tests/pub/2002722. Accessed January 29, 2018.

10. Marsh DJ, Coulon V, Lunetta KL, et al. Mutation spectrum and genotype-phenotype analyses in Cowden disease and Bannayan-Zonana syndrome, two hamartoma syndromes with germline PTEN mutation. Hum Mol Genet. Mar 1998;7(3):507-515. PMID 9467011

11. Marsh DJ, Kum JB, Lunetta KL, et al. PTEN mutation spectrum and genotype-phenotype correlations in Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome suggest a single entity with Cowden syndrome. Hum Mol Genet. Aug 1999;8(8):1461-1472. PMID 10400993

12. Pilarski R, Eng C. Will the real Cowden syndrome please stand up (again)? Expanding mutational and clinical spectra of the PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome [commentary]. J Med Genet. May 2004;41(5):323-326. PMID 15121767

Codes:
(The list of codes is not intended to be all-inclusive and is included below for informational purposes only. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis, drug or device code(s) does not constitute or imply authorization, certification, approval, offer of coverage or guarantee of payment.)

CPT*

    81321
    81322
    81323

HCPCS

* CPT only copyright 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
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Medical policies can be highly technical and are designed for use by the Horizon BCBSNJ professional staff in making coverage determinations. Members referring to this policy should discuss it with their treating physician, and should refer to their specific benefit plan for the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of their coverage.

The Horizon BCBSNJ Medical Policy Manual is proprietary. It is to be used only as authorized by Horizon BCBSNJ and its affiliates. The contents of this Medical Policy are not to be copied, reproduced or circulated to other parties without the express written consent of Horizon BCBSNJ. The contents of this Medical Policy may be updated or changed without notice, unless otherwise required by law and/or regulation. However, benefit determinations are made in the context of medical policies existing at the time of the decision and are not subject to later revision as the result of a change in medical policy

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