Preferences for research participation among individuals with Lynch syndrome: Findings from the HEROIC Registry

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Background: AliveAndKickn, whose mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by Lynch Syndrome (LS) through research and education, maintains the HEROIC Registry. It is the first-of-its-kind, patient-centric, genetic database that enables individuals to take an active role in furthering LS research. Methods: The HEROIC Registry allows patients to contribute medical information and their experiences living with LS and its associated cancers to help researchers develop new treatments, understand the various genetic mutations, and conduct further studies. It also asks individuals about their preferences for participating in different types of research studies. Results: The HEROIC Registry was launched in February of 2016. Potential participants were notified about the availability of the Registry in multiple ways, including social media and patient conferences. As of January 2020, 269 individuals have added their data to the Registry. Of those, 217 have a known LS mutation and were on average 42.5 years old at the time of diagnosis. 38% report having had a diagnosis of colorectal cancer with an average diagnosis age of 43; 23% of female respondents report having had endometrial cancer with an average diagnosis age of 48. 37% are cancer-unaffected. For interest in participating in future research, 69% are somewhat or very likely or definitely want to participate in research that involves a LS treatment, with rates ranging from 62-80% based on the delivery method of the treatment. For non-treatment studies, the percentage of individuals that are somewhat or very likely or definitely want to participate in research that involves community meetings, hospital stays, a medical procedure, wearing a device, or providing information by phone are text are 76%, 46%, 52%, 83%, and 78%, respectively. The percentage of individuals willing to donate a blood sample used to study their DNA is 95%. Conclusions: The HEROIC Registry provides a unique opportunity for health care providers and researchers to partner directly with a patient-advocacy organization for the purpose of improving LS care. It also has the benefit of including a diverse set of patients who are being seen in a variety of health care settings, which can aid in exploring research questions outside of a single institution. However, individuals show clear preferences for the types of research they are likely to participate in, a fact that should be taken into consideration when researchers are planning new studies in this population.

Abstract P2-12-13: Knowledge and Information seeking about personalized breast cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer patients and providers are increasingly interested in personalized cancer therapy. Information-seeking behaviors and knowledge about personalized cancer therapy, cancer genetics, and molecular testing may influence patients’ participation in clinical trials and decision making regarding their care. We evaluated breast cancer patients’ knowledge and information seeking behaviors regarding personalized cancer therapy (PCT).

METHODS: The study population included newly registered female breast cancer patients at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center prior to their first clinical visit. Of 308 consecutive patients who were invited to participate, 100 (32%) completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing their knowledge and information seeking preferences regarding PCT. Knowledge regarding cancer genetics and PCT research was assessed using 16 true/false questions (Cronbach’s α=0.88). A knowledge score was computed from the total number of correct responses.

RESULTS: Respondents were predominantly white (70%), older (median age 55 years; SD=12.9; range 26-84), educated (78% with college degree or higher) and higher incomes (54% >$50,000/year); 71% had been diagnosed with breast cancer for at most one year at time of participation. Knowledge regarding cancer genetics and PCT was moderate (M=8.68, SD=3.8). Although most participants (85%) could correctly identify the definition of PCT, many (59%) did not know that somatic mutations are not hereditary. Many (75%) knew that molecular testing can reveal risk for other hereditary cancers. Less than half (46.5%) knew about the availability of PCT in clinical trials. A minority (27%) indicated that they had sought information regarding PCT. They sought for information related to specific treatment options. Higher education (p<0.01) and income levels (p<0.05) were associated with higher knowledge scores and with seeking PCT information (p<0.01). Those who had previously undergone any genetic testing also were more likely to seek information about PCT (29.6% vs 9.9%, p<0.05). Other demographic and clinical variables like age, race, duration of illness, cancer stage did not correlate with the knowledge score or information seeking behavior.

CONCLUSION: Study participants could define PCT, but had limited knowledge of its availability and underlying treatment principles. This may be due, in part, to the fact that few participants had sought information about PCT. Understanding patients’ knowledge and prior information seeking regarding PCT may inform clinicians, who are likely to be patients’ initial source of information about PCT.

Citation Format: Deevakar Rogith, Rafeek A Yusuf, Shelley R Hovick, Bryan M Fellman, Susan K Peterson, Allison Burton-Chase, Yisheng Li, Elmer V Bernstam, Funda Meric-Bernstam. Knowledge and Information seeking about personalized breast cancer therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-12-13.