title: Attitudes toward molecular testing for personalized cancer therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed attitudes of breast cancer patients toward molecular testing for personalized therapy and research.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was given to female breast cancer patients presenting to a cancer center. Associations between demographic and clinical variables and attitudes toward molecular testing were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred eight patients were approached, and 100 completed the questionnaire (a 32% response rate). Most participants were willing to undergo molecular testing to assist in the selection of approved drugs (81%) and experimental therapy (59%) if testing was covered by insurance. Most participants were white (71%). Even if testing was financially covered, nonwhite participants were less willing to undergo molecular testing for the selection of approved drugs (54% of nonwhites vs 90% of whites, odds ratio [OR] = 0.13, P = .0004) or experimental drugs (35% vs 68%, OR = 0.26, P = .0072). Most participants (75%) were willing to undergo a biopsy to guide therapy, and 46% were willing to undergo research biopsies. Nonwhite participants were less willing to undergo research biopsies (17% vs 55%, OR = 0.17, P = .0033). Most participants wanted to be informed when research results had implications for treatment (91%), new cancer risk (90%), and other preventable/treatable diseases (87%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients were willing to undergo molecular testing and minimally invasive procedures to guide approved or experimental therapy. There were significant differences in attitudes toward molecular testing between racial groups; nonwhites were less willing to undergo testing even if the results would guide their own therapy. Novel approaches are needed to prevent disparities in the delivery of genomically informed care and to increase minority participation in biomarker-driven trials. Cancer 2015;121:243-50. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Rafeek A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.forename: Deevakar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rogith
authors.forename: Shelly R A
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hovick
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Burton-Chase
authors.forename: Bryan M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Fellman
authors.forename: Yisheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKinney
authors.forename: Elmer V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Bernstam
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meric-Bernstam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: biomarkers; disparities; molecular testing; personalized cancer therapy; questionnaire; survey