Abstract IA50: Genetic testing, treatment and mortality after diagnosis of breast cancer or ovarian cancer: The SEER-GeneLINK Initiative

Abstract

Abstract Cancer registries enable research on cancer incidence and outcomes in a real-world setting, with broad relevance for the general population. Since only 3% of adult cancer patients in the United States are treated in clinical trials, cancer registries offer crucial insight into the treatment and survival of the other 97%. While highly informative in terms of patient demographics, cancer incidence, and survival, cancer registries lack key clinical details necessary to assess treatment quality and prognostic factors: notably, genetic testing results, specific therapies and patient-reported outcomes. In recent work, we have developed novel data linkage approaches to augment the information value of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry. These linkages have enhanced our understanding of breast cancer and ovarian cancer from genetic risk assessment through treatment, recurrence, and mortality. I will discuss the SEER-GeneLINK initiative, in which we have collaborated with genetic testing laboratories to link the results of germline genetic testing to SEER registry records of breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients. Furthermore, we have surveyed these patients and their attending physicians about key aspects of genetic testing. We are now extending this work to encompass cascade genetic testing of patients' relatives. Our aim is to identify gaps and disparities in cancer care, in order to inform interventions that will improve care quality. Recent results on the use, correlates, and results of genetic testing on the population level will be presented. Citation Format: Allison W. Kurian. Genetic testing, treatment and mortality after diagnosis of breast cancer or ovarian cancer: The SEER-GeneLINK Initiative [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr IA50.