PURPOSE: Studies suggest that African American women are less likely to pursue BRCA1/2 genetic testing than white women. However, such studies are often confounded by unequal access to care. METHODS: Data from 132 African American and 636 white women, obtained from a clinical database at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) between 1998 and 2005, were analyzed to assess BRCA1/2 genetic testing uptake. Importantly, the clinical setting minimized barriers of both cost and access. Race and time of new breast cancer diagnosis (recent v > 1 year before genetic evaluation) were assessed for association with BRCA1/2 testing uptake using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Both race (P = .0082) and a recent diagnosis of breast cancer (P = .014) were independently associated with testing uptake. African American women had a lower estimated odds of pursuing testing than white women (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95%CI, 0.34 to 0.85), and women with a recent diagnosis had a higher OR than those with a remote diagnosis (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.29). In a race-stratified analysis, there was no statistical evidence for association between recent status and testing uptake in the larger white stratum (OR, 1.38, P = .13) while there was for the smaller African American sample (OR, 2.77, P = .018). The test of interaction between race and remote status was not significant (P = .15). CONCLUSION: African American race was associated with an overall decreased uptake of BRCA1/2 genetic testing, even when barriers of ascertainment and cost were minimized. However, among African American women, a recent diagnosis of breast cancer was associated with substantially increased uptake of testing.
PURPOSE: Studies suggest that African American women are less likely to pursue BRCA1/2 genetic testing than white women. However, such studies are often confounded by unequal access to care. METHODS: Data from 132 African American and 636 white women, obtained from a clinical database at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) between 1998 and 2005, were analyzed to assess BRCA1/2 genetic testing uptake. Importantly, the clinical setting minimized barriers of both cost and access. Race and time of new breast cancer diagnosis (recent v > 1 year before genetic evaluation) were assessed for association with BRCA1/2 testing uptake using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Both race (P = .0082) and a recent diagnosis of breast cancer (P = .014) were independently associated with testing uptake. African American women had a lower estimated odds of pursuing testing than white women (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95%CI, 0.34 to 0.85), and women with a recent diagnosis had a higher OR than those with a remote diagnosis (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.29). In a race-stratified analysis, there was no statistical evidence for association between recent status and testing uptake in the larger white stratum (OR, 1.38, P = .13) while there was for the smaller African American sample (OR, 2.77, P = .018). The test of interaction between race and remote status was not significant (P = .15). CONCLUSION: African American race was associated with an overall decreased uptake of BRCA1/2 genetic testing, even when barriers of ascertainment and cost were minimized. However, among African American women, a recent diagnosis of breast cancer was associated with substantially increased uptake of testing.
Authors: Anne Marie McCarthy; Mirar Bristol; Susan M Domchek; Peter W Groeneveld; Younji Kim; U Nkiru Motanya; Judy A Shea; Katrina Armstrong Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2016-05-09 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Robin A Lacour; Molly S Daniels; Shannon N Westin; Larissa A Meyer; Catherine C Burke; Kimberly A Burns; Shiney Kurian; Nicki F Webb; Terri B Pustilnik; Karen H Lu Journal: Gynecol Oncol Date: 2008-08-06 Impact factor: 5.482