Abstract P2-16-04: Attitudes of metastatic breast cancer patients towards research biopsies
Authors: Seah DS , Scott SM , Najita J , Openshaw T , Krag KJ , Frank E , Sohl J , Stadler ZK , Garrett M , Winer EP , Come S , Lin NU 
Published: August 2014

Background: In the era of molecularly targeted therapy, developing an understanding of the molecular basis of cancer is a principal or secondary goal of many research studies. For this reason, studies collecting tissue for research purposes are increasingly common. Understanding patients' attitudes towards research biopsies may lead to improvement in accrual to research biopsy studies.

Methods: Patients with metastatic breast cancer from two academic and two community hospitals completed a self-administered paper survey consisting of 29 questions in clinic to evaluate their willingness to consider providing additional biopsies (additional biopsy performed with a clinically indicated biopsy) and research purposes only biopsies (RPOB) (research biopsy performed as a stand alone procedure).

Results: 160 patients (n = 80 academic, n=80 community) completed the survey, with a response rate of 98%. As expected, demographic variables differed between sites, with patients from academic sites likely to be younger (p = 0.01), more educated (p = 0.002), employed (p = 0.01), have prior trial participation (P &lt;0.001) and have a longer travel time (P &lt;0.0001). 64 (80%) academic patients and 51 (64%) community patients would definitely or probably consider additional biopsies. 42 (53%) academic patients and 40 (50%) community patients would consider RPOB.

In univariate analyses of patients' willingness to have additional biopsies, patients in academic sites were more likely to agree to additional biopsies than those at community sites (RR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.5, p = 0.03). Statistically significant differences based on demographic characteristics such as age, education, marital status, prior trial participation, number of prior biopsies, and travel time were not observed.

For RPOB, patients having had more prior biopsies were less likely to consider research biopsies (RR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–1.0, p = 0.03). The following variables did not reach statistical significance: type of practice, age, education, marital status, prior trial participation, and travel time.

Patients' willingness in both academic and community sites to consider RPOB declined with more invasive biopsies. Although differences were observed, none were statistically significant between academic and community; skin (56%, 65%), bone marrow (30%, 27%), breast (43%, 49%) or liver (24%, 19%).

Of the 13/160 (8%) patients who would not consider additional biopsies, the most common reasons cited included pain or discomfort (n = 8/13, 62%), risk of biopsy (n = 8/13, 62%) and anxiety related to the biopsy (n = 6/13, 46%). Of the 37/160 (23%) patients who would not consider RPOB, the most common reasons cited included pain or discomfort (n = 23/37, 62%), risk of biopsy (n = 15/37, 41%) and inconvenience of the procedure to the patient (n = 13/37, 35%).

Conclusions: The majority of patients in this study indicated they would consider research biopsies, with a larger proportion willing to consider additional biopsies; patients seen at academic hospitals were more likely to consider additional biopsies compared to those seen at community hospitals. Breast cancer patients' willingness to undergo research biopsies may be higher than generally expected by clinicians and may not be the primary barrier to obtaining research biopsies.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-16-04.