Genetic testing for cancer is still low, particularly amongst BIPOC patients, according to a new study.
Published on June 5 in the medical journal JAMA Network, a cohort of researchers from institutions such as the Stanford School of Medicine and the University of Michigan School of Public Health conducted an observational study on patients diagnosed with cancer in California and Georgia.
Looking at the information of over 1.3 million cancer patients, the researchers observed the presence of germline genetic testing in cases of men and women with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, endometrial cancer and multiple cancers.
Through samples, germline genetic testing examines DNA strands for inherited mutations from birth in cells that could develop into future cancers. According to the new study, out of these 1.3 million cancer patient studies from 2013 to 2019, only approximately 7% underwent germline testing in this span.
Out of all demographics, members of BIPOC communities recorded the lowest rates of using this method to test for diagnosis. Of the people who underwent testing, only 25% of Black patients, 23% of Hispanic patients and 22% of Asian patients underwent germline genetic testing.
“We have shown that testing results often come too late to inform cancer management and too many patients with important test findings are left dangling on their own to communicate with their family about really complicated issues,” said the Professor of Medicine and Health Management and Policy and leader of the Cancer Surveillance and Outcomes Research Team, Steven Katz, M.D., per a statement.“We need to develop, deploy, and evaluate new strategies and tools to ensure that the rapid advances in genetic oncology are put into practice to improve health outcomes for patients and their families.”
Of all demographics, Black Americans are the most likely to experience disparities when it comes to cancer, resulting in fatal outcomes for the patients. According to the American Cancer Society, Black Americans are more likely to experience more illnesses with early deaths, recording the highest death rate for a majority of cancers.
The Society identifies specific cancers, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer, as contributing to this higher death rate, with Black men recording prostate cancer rates at double those of other racial or ethnic groups.
Meanwhile, Black women have an increased 40% chance of passing away from cancer, with women over the age of 50 being twice as likely to pass away. Contributing factors to these higher rates include less access to health care, detection delayed to late stages, environmental conditions and more, according to the National Cancer Institute.
