Abstract P3-14-20: Racial and ethnic groups have different clustering of variants of uncertain significance

Abstract

Abstract Background:Racial/ethnic disparities in minority access to genetic testing have perpetuated a higher likelihood of identifying an uncertain result in minority populations. Methods:Patient data was obtained from the Informed Genetics Annotated Patient Registry (iGAP), an IRB-approved multi-center longitudinal, observational study designed to capture genetic and genomic test results and their utilization and impact on treatment practices and outcomes. Patients self-declare race/ethnicity. Genetic panels contained between 1 and 148 genes and variant classification was determined by the performing genetic testing companies and reported as negative, variant of uncertain significance (VUS), likely-pathogenic, or pathogenic. Descriptive statistics were used to assess and compare data of these populations and germline genetic testing results indicating variant of uncertain significance. Results:Hispanic and African American patients had approximately twice as many uncertain results (VUS) compared to Caucasian patients for all cancer genes examined. Conclusions:Variant adjudication has disproportionately sorted out more uncertain results in Caucasians than Hispanics and African Americans. This leads to greater uncertainty in post-test counseling for these groups and should be a focus for lab testing companies going forward. Citation Format: Peter Beitsch, Chloe Wernecke, Kelly Bontempo, Brenna Bentley, Maureen Graham, Pat Whitworth, Rakesh Patel. Racial and ethnic groups have different clustering of variants of uncertain significance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-14-20.