Abstract A085: A comparison of the recruitment and enrollment of racially and ethnically minoritized patients in two non-interventional genetic testing studies in Florida
Authors: Burnett Destiny B. , St-Hilaire Sandy , Castillo Melissa N. , Carlier Daniela M. Zuniga , Casanova Osmaray Morales , Sealy Ashlee J. , Sanchez Alex P. , Schulmbrecht Matthew P. , Ragin Camille , George Sophia , Hurley Judith , Sharma Janaki , Perez Alejandra 
Published: December 2023

Objectives: To compare participation rates of minority individuals in two non-interventional genetic studies. Background: Enrollment of participants into non-interventional studies is important in understanding cancer development in minority patients. Black, Hispanic, and Latin men and women are diagnosed with aggressive forms of cancer at more advanced stages however, the underlying mechanisms leading to poor outcomes of disease is still not well understood. To understand disease development, two studies were launched. Study 1 focused on the recruitment of mutation carriers not yet diagnosed with cancer. Participants of this study were of any race and consented to the collection of fresh tissue. Participants were physician-referred and approached by the study team on the day of surgery. The patients received an explanation of the objectives and conditions of participation. Study 2 was focused on recruiting minority participants in clinic with a confirmed diagnosis of breast or prostate cancer. Participants consented to the collection of archival tissue and participants were called prior to their clinic visit and explained the objectives and conditions of participation. We compared the rates of enrollment of minority patients into these non-interventional genetic studies. Methods: Participants were Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), or White, Non-Hispanic who were mutation carriers without cancer or had an active diagnosis of ovarian, breast, or prostate cancer. The study team was composed of Latin, South, and Central American Spanish-speakers and African American Caribbeans Haitian-Creole speakers. All study materials were available in English, Haitian Creole, and Spanish. Matched recruitment was completed between the patient population and study team members who spoke English, Haitian Creole, and Spanish. The studies were assessed and compared for their methods of recruitment, participation rates, and demographics of their enrolled patient populations between December 2022 and May 2023.  Results: A total of 121 men and women are included in this data analysis. 81.8% of patients approached for both studies consented to participate. 92.9% of those who consented were minorities. In Study 1, 68.6% eligible patients agreed to participate (24/35). Of the 24 patients enrolled, 41.7% (10/24) were White Hispanic/Latina, 20.8% (5/24) were Black Hispanic and non-Hispanic, 29.2% (7/24) were White non-Hispanic, and 2.7% (2/36) declined race. Of those who rejected participation, 63.6% were Black non-Hispanic. In Study 2, 87.2% (75/86) of the 86 eligible patients consented to the study. 72% (54/75) were female and 28% (21/75) were male. Of the female participants, 31.5% (17/54) were Black non-Hispanic and 68.5% (37/54) were White Hispanic/Latino. Of the male participants, 47.6% (10/21) were Black and 52.3% (11/21) were Hispanic/Latino. 63.6% of those who rejected participation were White Hispanic. Conclusions: Our results indicate that study acceptance by racially and ethnically minoritized individuals is dependent on recruitment approach and current health status.

Citation Format: Destiny B. Burnett, Sandy St-Hilaire, Melissa N. Castillo, Daniela M. Zuniga Carlier, Osmaray Morales Casanova, Ashlee J. Sealy, Alex P. Sanchez, Matthew P. Schulmbrecht, Camille Ragin, Sophia George, Judith Hurley, Janaki Sharma, Alejandra Perez. A comparison of the recruitment and enrollment of racially and ethnically minoritized patients in two non-interventional genetic testing studies in Florida [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A085.