Open AccessPredictors of BRCA 1/2 genetic testing among Black women with breast cancer: a population‐based study
Author(s) -
Jones Tarsha,
McCarthy Anne Marie,
Kim Younji,
Armstrong Katrina
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.1120
Subject(s) - medicine , brca mutation , breast cancer , genetic testing , oncology , logistic regression , cancer , population , gynecology , multivariate analysis , demography , environmental health , sociology
Evidence shows that Black women diagnosed with breast cancer are substantially less likely to undergo BRCA testing and other multipanel genetic testing compared to White women, despite having a higher incidence of early‐age onset breast cancer and triple‐negative breast cancer ( TNBC ). Our study identifies predictors of BRCA testing among Black women treated for breast cancer and examines differences between BRCA testers and nontesters. We conducted an analysis of 945 Black women ages 18–64 diagnosed with localized or regional‐stage invasive breast cancer in Pennsylvania and Florida between 2007 and 2009. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of BRCA 1/2 testing. Few (27%) ( n = 252) of the participants reported having BRCA testing. In the multivariate analysis, we found that perceived benefits of BRCA testing ( predisposing factor ) ([ OR ], 1.16; 95% CI : 1.11–1.21; P < 0.001), income ( enabling factor ) ([ OR ], 2.10; 95% CI : 1.16–3.80; p = 0.014), and BRCA mutation risk category ( need factor ) ([ OR ], 3.78; 95% CI : 2.31–6.19; P < 0.001) predicted BRCA testing. These results suggest that interventions to reduce disparities in BRCA testing should focus on identifying patients with high risk of mutation, increasing patient understanding of the benefits of BRCA testing, and removing financial and other administrative barriers to genetic testing.