Abstract In Brazil, the population in general has little knowledge about genetic risks, as well as regarding the role and importance of the Cancer Genetic Counseling (CGC). The goal of this study was to evaluate cancer-related worry and cancer risk perception during CGC sessions in Brazilian women at-risk for hereditary breast cancer. This study was performed in 264 individuals seeking CGC for hereditary breast cancer. Both cancer-affected and unaffected individuals were included. As results, individuals with and without cancer reported different motivations for seeking CGC and undergoing genetic testing. A correlation was observed between age at the first CGC session and age at which the closest relative was diagnosed with cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that educational level, cancer risk discussion within the family, and number of deaths by cancer among first-degree relatives influenced positively the cancer risk perception. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that cancer-related worry and cancer risk perception are significant aspects of morbidity in individuals seeking CGC, whether they are cancer-affected or unaffected. CGC has an important role in health education and cancer prevention for its potential of promoting an accurate perception of the risk.

This article outlines and discusses Brazil's new regulations on the use of human biological materials for research, specifically, Resolution CNS 441/11, enacted by the National Health Council of Brazil in May 2011, and the National Guidelines for Biorepositories and Biobanks (Ordinance No. 2201) published by the Ministry of Health in September 2011. The authors examine the differences between sample collections for single studies and large-scale collections for multiple studies (e.g., the National Tumor Bank at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute and the A. C. Camargo Hospital Biobank). Also discussed are the ethical and operational implications, i.e.,informed consent process, strategies for sample collection, custodianship, access to samples, and rules for disposal. Insights gained may be useful for developing national biobanking regulations in other countries in Latin America.

En este artículo se describen y se analizan los nuevos reglamentos del Brasil -para el uso de materiales biológicos humanos para la investigación; específicamente, la Resolución CNS 441/11, sancionada por el Consejo Nacional de Salud del Brasil en mayo del 2011, y las Directrices Nacionales para Repositorios Biológicos y Bancos de Materiales Biológicos (Ordenanza Nº. 2201), publicadas por el Ministerio de Salud en septiembre del 2011. Los autores examinan las diferencias entre la recolección de muestras para un estudio único y la recolección en gran escala para múltiples estudios (por ejemplo, el Banco Nacional de Tumores del Instituto Nacional del Cáncer del Brasil y el Banco de Materiales Biológicos del Hospital A. C. Camargo). También se analizan las implicaciones éticas y operativas, como el proceso de consentimiento informado, las estrategias de obtención de las muestras, su custodia, el acceso a las muestras y las reglas para desecharlas. Estos conocimientos pueden ser útiles para establecer reglamentos nacionales para los bancos de materiales biológicos en otros países de América Latina.