Abstract B079: Knowledge, interest, uptake of cancer genetic testing among South Asian Americans

Abstract Introduction: South Asian Americans (SAAs; Bangladesh, India, Pakistan), the fastest growing racial-ethnic group in the US, face significant hereditary cancer disparities, including a 2-6x higher prevalence of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants relative to the overall US population. Despite greater hereditary cancer risks, little is known about SAA knowledge, interest, or uptake of genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk. This study explores knowledge, interest, and uptake of cancer genetic testing among SAAs. Methods: SAAs (n=108) were recruited from eight community organizations in the DC-Maryland-Virginia Area. Participants self-reported personal and family history of cancer, knowledge, interest, and uptake of cancer genetic testing, perceived discrimination in healthcare (Everyday Discrimination in Healthcare Scale), religiosity, religious coping (Psychological Measure of Islamic Religiousness scale), spirituality, value for ancestral culture, sociodemographics, and preferences for genetic testing interventions. After summarizing the sample using descriptive statistics, we conducted bivariate (chi-square, t-test) and multivariate (logistic regression) tests to identify predictors of interest in genetic testing. Results: Participants were primarily foreign-born (63%) and had family history of cancer (53%). Although knowledge (median=2.0 out of 10; SD=3.0) and uptake (5%) of cancer genetic testing were low, interest was high (77% interested). Greater interest in testing was associated with: lower discrimination in healthcare (p=.003), lower value for ancestral culture (p=.025), greater spirituality (p=.018), and greater role of religiosity in cancer screening decisions (p=.017). In a multivariable logistic regression, the only variable independently associated with interest was value of culture. Those who rated culture lower, had 2.3 times greater odds of being interested in cancer genetic testing (p=0.041; OR = 2.26; 95% CI, 1.04-4.09). Participant preferred receipt of genetic information via: genetic counselor (29%), physician (27%), a document (18%), video (16%), navigator (14%), and website (13%). From a menu of 14 options, participants reported the following would facilitate receipt of testing: informational materials (57%), insurance coverage for most/all costs (56%), at-home testing kit (50%), physician recommendation (45%), testing during a routine medical appointment (44%), clinic to get testing is near home (40%). Conclusion: Given SAAs disproportionately experience greater risk of hereditary cancer, suboptimal knowledge and uptake of testing for hereditary cancer risk indicates a need for intervention, just as SAAs’ high interest present an opportunity for intervention. Intervention content could benefit from addressing cultural beliefs, as higher value for ancestral culture was associated with less interest in cancer genetic testing. Future interventions should strategically determine which components are best delivered by healthcare providers versus alternative formats such as documents or videos. Citation Format: Shreya Kaushik, Maisha Huq, Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza, Chiranjeev Dash, Marc D . Schwartz. Knowledge, interest, uptake of cancer genetic testing among South Asian Americans [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B079.