Abstract PO1-20-01: A Prospective Single-Arm Pilot Interventional Trial to Assess Individual Breast Cancer Risk Prior to Gender-Affirming Chest Masculinization Surgery
Authors: Chandler Cortina, Anna Purdy, Samantha Stachowiak, Kristen Klement, Sarah Sasor, Kate Krucoff, Andrew Petroll, Kevin Robertson, Annie Lakatos, Erin Doren
Journal: Cancer Research (2024)

Abstract Background: The number of individuals who identify as transgender and/or gender-diverse (TGD) is steadily increasing and the number of individuals seeking chest masculinization surgery, commonly called “top-surgery,” is also increasing. In persons assigned female at birth, top surgery removes most breast tissue to allow the chest to appear masculine. However, top surgery is not equivalent to oncologic risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM), which aim to remove all breast tissue to reduce future breast cancer (BC) risk. While top surgery has significant psychological and health benefits, its impact on future BC risk is unclear, especially for those individuals who are at high-risk for future BC development (defined as ≥17% by international consensus guidelines) and/or have a pathogenic germline mutation for BC. The aims of this study are to 1) determine the percentage of TGD persons assigned female at birth who are considering undergoing top surgery and are at elevated BC risk using validated risk models, 2) determine the percentage of TGD persons at elevated BC risk who choose to undergo RRM as part of top surgery, and 3) assess and compare self-perceived BC risk compared to calculated risk. Methods: A single-institution prospective single-arm pilot study is currently underway from March 2023 through January 2024. Individuals assigned female at birth, who are age ≥18 years, and considering undergoing top surgery, but have not yet undergone top surgery, are eligible to enroll (goal accrual N=35). Participants are being actively recruited form our institution’s Comprehensive LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Health Clinic and Plastic Surgery Clinic. Consented participants undergo a personalized BC risk assessment the validated IBIS and Gail (for those ≥35 years old) BC risk models. Those with an average lifetime BC risk (&amp;lt; 17%) are recommended to continue top surgery as planned/no intervention, participants with a moderate lifetime BC risk (17-30%) are counseled they may consider RRM as part of their top surgery operation given that sparse data exists in this space, while those with a high lifetime BC risk ( &amp;gt;30% or pathogenic germline variant) are counseled on the potential benefits of RRM. Participants with a family history suggestive of a hereditary cancer syndrome meet with a certified Genetics counselor for consideration of genetic testing, per NCCN guidelines. Results: We anticipate reporting 1) general demographic description of the cohort, 2) the percentage who have an elevated lifetime BC risk and/or a pathogenic genetic mutation, 3) the percentage of those with an elevated risk who choose to undergo RRM as part of top surgery, and 4) report the differences between self-perceived vs calculated lifetime BC risk. Conclusion: Our findings will inform TGD persons and surgeons on the utility of a personalized BC risk assessment prior to top surgery to assist in surgical decision-making, report the accuracy of self-perceived BC risk in TGD persons, and potentially change the standard pre-operative evaluation for TGD persons considering top surgery to include a formal BC risk assessment to ensure high-risk individuals have the option to undergo RRM to appropriately reduce their future BC risk. Citation Format: Chandler Cortina, Anna Purdy, Samantha Stachowiak, Kristen Klement, Sarah Sasor, Kate Krucoff, Andrew Petroll, Kevin Robertson, Annie Lakatos, Erin Doren. A Prospective Single-Arm Pilot Interventional Trial to Assess Individual Breast Cancer Risk Prior to Gender-Affirming Chest Masculinization Surgery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-20-01.