Abstract B056: Assessing knowledge of genetic testing for inherited cancer among registry-based young black breast cancer survivors and predominantly non-Hispanic white clinic-based patients
Authors: Cadiz Sydney , Reid Sonya , Zuniga Brenda , Tezak Ann , Weidner Anne , Pal Tuya 
Published: September 2020

Introduction: Practice guidelines put forth through the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) evolved to encompass a new method of testing whereby multiple genes are tested in parallel (i.e., multi-gene panel testing) and racial disparities in genetic testing rates persist. To measure and compare knowledge of inherited cancer predisposition and multi-gene panel testing across racially diverse patient groups, we administered a newly developed and validated knowledge scale aligned with the 2016 ASCO guidelines. Methods: Online survey data inclusive of 14 knowledge questions was collected among Black women diagnosed with breast cancer at or below age 50 recruited through the Tennessee and Florida state cancer registries (“Registry group”; N=39) and an insured, predominately non-Hispanic White patient population referred for cancer genetic risk assessment at the Vanderbilt Hereditary Cancer Clinic (“Clinic group”; N= 55). Demographic and clinical information were compared using Chi-Square and Fisher’s Exact tests. Mean knowledge scores were calculated and compared using multiple regression analysis. Results: Rates of cancer among the Registry and Clinic groups were 100% and 49% (p&lt;.0001), and rates of previous genetic testing were 69% and 13% (p&lt;.0001). Mean knowledge scores were 6.10 and 6.75. When controlling for race, cancer history, and previous genetic testing, knowledge was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.507). The lowest scoring knowledge questions among the Registry and Clinic groups included: 1) understanding of a variant of uncertain significance (15% and 11%); 2) knowledge of impact of genetic test results on supplemental insurance (21% and 11%); and 3) the types of possible test results (15% and 18%). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate similar knowledge of inherited cancer predisposition between a predominantly non-Hispanic White clinic-based population and a registry-based population of young Black breast cancer survivors; however, additional analyses should be performed as sample size increases. Knowledge about the possible results of genetic testing and the lack of protection against discrimination by supplemental insurers (e.g., life and disability insurance) was low across both groups; thus, should be a focus for improvement given that it could have real-world implications for decision-making. It remains important to assess knowledge of inherited cancer across diverse patient groups to develop effective strategies and interventions to increase knowledge across populations, including those with recognized disparities.

Citation Format: Sydney Cadiz, Sonya Reid, Brenda Zuniga, Ann Tezak, Anne Weidner, Tuya Pal. Assessing knowledge of genetic testing for inherited cancer among registry-based young black breast cancer survivors and predominantly non-Hispanic white clinic-based patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B056.