title: Attitudes of Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancers Toward Research Biopsies.
abstract: Research biopsies are an increasingly important component of clinical trials, but there are concerns that biopsies may deter patients from participating in research.
  
  
  
  Patients participating in a single-center study investigating the feasibility of molecular profiling in advanced gastrointestinal cancers were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their reasons for consenting/declining optional research biopsies and blood samples. These samples were mainly for exploratory translational research and were unlikely to influence patients' treatment.
  
  
  
  One hundred ninety-six (88%) of the 222 patients registered in the study completed the questionnaire. One hundred twenty-six patients (64%) stated they consented to a biopsy and 180 patients (92%) to blood sample collection. Male patients (P = .033) and patients with a good performance status (PS) were more willing to consent to a biopsy (79% for PS 0, 63% for PS 1, 43% for PS 2; P = .012). Eighty-eight patients (70%) who consented to a biopsy gave an altruistic reason (eg, to help research and/or others) as a reason why they consented. Only 8 patients (6%) consented solely because they believed it might influence their treatment. Reasons for declining biopsies included a wish to avoid additional procedures (n = 18; 29%) and previous unpleasant biopsy experiences (n = 9; 15%).
  
  
  
  Many patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer appear willing to undergo biopsies for exploratory research purposes. In our study, patients who consented to a biopsy mainly did so for altruistic reasons and/or a wish to contribute to scientific research.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sing Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Moorcraft
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ruwaida
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peckitt
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baratelli
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillbanks
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vitalis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nwokorie
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal and Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom. Electronic address: naureen.starling@rmh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Naureen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Starling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000533:Altruism; D001294:Attitude to Health; D035843:Biomedical Research; D001706:Biopsy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Altruism; Blood sampling; Consent; Motivations; Translational research