It Takes Two to Tango: Integrating Germline Assessment into Tumour Genomics
Date: September 9, 2026 12:00-1:30 pm (EST)
Host / Moderator:
Shamini Selvarajah PhD, DABMGG, FACMG, FCCMG
Toronto, Ontario
Director, Solid Tumour Genomics, Division of Genome Diagnostics
Laboratory Medicine Program | University Health Network - A Healthier World
Assistant Professor | University of Toronto
Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology
Speakers
Ken Craddock MD, FRCPC, FCCMG
Dr. Craddock obtained his Medical Degree in his home province of Alberta prior to moving to Toronto for Anatomic Pathology residency in 2004. During his residency and early career, he was fortunate to have the opportunity to train in the Canadian College of Medical Genetics (CCMG) Fellowships in Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics in Toronto. After Directing of the University Health Network Cancer Cytogenetics Laboratory between 2010 and 2014, Dr. Craddock worked in a broad surgical pathology practice at Southlake Regional Health Centre / Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, for 5 years, prior to moving to Sunnybrook to practice a combination of Surgical Pathology and Molecular Pathology, in 2020. Dr. Craddock is currently working hard with colleagues at Sunnybrook and with the Laboratory Genetics Community in Ontario to provide a full complement of adult cancer biomarker testing in Toronto.
Peter Sabatini PhD, FCCMG
Peter Sabatini is a Clinical Laboratory Geneticist at BC Cancer Agency working in the area of cancer genetics and genomic medicine. His work focuses on the integration of genetic testing into clinical oncology practice, with particular interest in the interpretation of tumour sequencing data and its relationship to underlying germline variation. He is involved in efforts to improve the clinical utility of genomic testing and to support evidence-based laboratory workflows for hereditary and somatic cancer assessment.
Brief Description
This session will review the interpretation and management of possible germline findings identified through tumour-only next-generation sequencing. Using current evidence and provincial guidance, it will outline the likelihood that pathogenic variants detected on tumour testing represent underlying germline alterations, discuss the technical and biological limitations of tumour-only assays for germline assessment, and suggest a practical laboratory approach to suspected germline variants in the Canadian context.
Learning Objectives
After this learning activity the participant will be able to
- Recognize the importance of integrating germline genetic assessment into routine oncology care to minimize missed hereditary cancer diagnoses.
- Review the spectrum of likelihoods that pathogenic variants identified on tumour sequencing represent underlying germline alterations.
- Evaluate the technical and biological limitations of tumour‑only next‑generation sequencing for germline assessment.
- Describe current provincial guidance and compare approaches to suspected germline variants detected during tumour testing at two major laboratories in Ontario and British Columbia.