Multidisciplinary Lynch Syndrome Clinic: JCO Oncology Practice | August 2026

Introduction:

Individuals with Lynch syndrome (LS) require lifelong surveillance for colorectal and upper gastrointestinal cancers, yet adherence to screening recommendations remains suboptimal. This study evaluated whether a dedicated multidisciplinary Inherited Risk Gastrointestinal (IRGI) clinic improves compliance with recommended surveillance.

Why was this study needed?

• Lynch syndrome requires lifelong, gene-specific surveillance involving multiple specialities.
• Adherence to colonoscopy and upper endoscopy recommendations remains poor.
• Coordinating surveillance across providers is challenging.
• Multidisciplinary hereditary cancer clinics may simplify long-term management.
• Evidence supporting structured care models for Lynch syndrome has been limited.

Results:

• Patients managed through the multidisciplinary IRGI clinic were more than seven times more likely to adhere to recommended colonoscopy and upper endoscopy surveillance than those receiving standard care.
• Colonoscopy adherence was 74% in IRGI patients versus 31% in non-IRGI patients, while upper endoscopy adherence reached 89% versus 41%, demonstrating a substantial improvement in guideline compliance.
• Attendance at the multidisciplinary clinic remained an independent predictor of surveillance adherence, even after adjustment for patient characteristics.

Clinical Impact:

This study demonstrates that structured multidisciplinary hereditary cancer clinics significantly improve adherence to evidence-based gastrointestinal surveillance in Lynch syndrome. Integrating genetic counsellors, gastroenterologists, oncology specialists, and coordinated scheduling, including same-day colonoscopy and EGD when appropriate, may improve early cancer detection and prevention.

Bottom Line:

A dedicated multidisciplinary Lynch syndrome clinic dramatically improves adherence to recommended gastrointestinal cancer surveillance. Coordinated hereditary cancer care should be considered a best-practice model to optimise long-term outcomes in patients with Lynch syndrome.