Who Gets Genomic Testing for Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk?

Background/Aims: Our study examined whether patient characteristics, beliefs and decision-making styles were associated with uptake of genomic testing for breast cancer recurrence risk. Methods: Participants were 132 early-stage breast cancer patients eligible for the Oncotype DX genomic test. We interviewed patients in 2009-2010 and obtained information from medical charts. Results: Half of the women eligible for genomic testing for breast cancer recurrence risk received it. The most common reason for not getting the test was that women's physicians did not offer it (80%). Test recipients were more likely to be unsure about receiving chemotherapy treatment compared to women who did not receive the test (p < 0.05). Women who received the test had less advanced disease pathologies, recalled a lower objective recurrence risk, perceived lower recurrence risk, and were slightly younger (all p < 0.05). Most women who described their decision-making style as active received the test (75%), whereas few women who described their style as passive received the test (12%) (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In the university clinic we studied, genomic testing appeared to be more common among patients who may benefit most from the information provided by results, but confirmation in larger studies is needed. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel