Cancer Variant Interpretation Group UK (CanVIG-UK): updates on an exemplar national subspecialty multidisciplinary network.
Garrett A., Allen S., Rowlands CF., Choi S., Durkie M., Burghel GJ., Robinson R., Callaway A., Field J., Frugtniet B., Palmer-Smith S., Grant J., Pagan J., McDevitt T., Hughes L., Johnston E., Yarram-Smith L., Logan P., Reed L., Snape K., Hanson H., McVeigh TP., Turnbull C., Turnbull C., CanVIG-UK .
BackgroundCancer Variant Interpretation Group UK (CanVIG-UK) was established in 2017 in response to the publication of the 2015 American College of Medical Genetics/Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) v3 guidance for the interpretation of sequence variants. Its initial purpose was to ensure consistency in the UK clinical-laboratory community implementation of ACMG/AMP v3 guidance for cancer susceptibility genes (CSGs). Still convening for monthly national meetings, the remit of CanVIG-UK now encompasses additional activities delivered under the following objectives: (1) creation of a national multidisciplinary professional network and regular forum, (2) delivery of training and education, (3) establishment of a consensus approach to the fundamentals of variant interpretation in CSGs, (4) development and ratification of gene-specific frameworks for variant interpretation for CSGs, (5) development and maintenance of an online platform to facilitate information sharing and variant interpretation within the UK clinical-laboratory community and (6) facilitation of UK contribution to international variant interpretation endeavours.MethodsA survey of CanVIG-UK members evaluating the impact of these activities conducted in November 2025 had 163 responses, including 113 clinical scientists/trainees and 27 Clinical Genetics consultants/trainees.ResultsThe utility of the CanVIG-UK consensus recommendations for variant interpretation in CSGs was highly rated, with 89/145 (61.4%) of survey respondents reporting using the guidance at least weekly (≥4 times/month) and 124/128 (96.9%) rating it as extremely/very useful. The usage frequency and perceived utility reported for the gene-specific guidance by survey respondents were similar.ConclusionBoth qualitative and quantitative survey responses clearly demonstrate the value of the CanVIG-UK activities to the clinical-diagnostic community.