Men Undergo Hereditary Cancer Testing Less Frequently Than Women

Unaffected men undergo genetic cancer testing at half the rate of unaffected women, according to a research letter published April 26 in JAMA Oncology. This disparity in testing is attributable to a 10-to-1-gender difference in testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, the authors say.

Up to 10 percent of cancers are hereditary in nature, including BRCA1/2 that are responsible for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. While genetic testing in women predominates headlines, carrier rates are actually equivalent between men and women.

The researchers used data from the 2015 US National Health Interview Survey in order to national distribution of genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk.

For those reporting they underwent genetic testing, sociodemographic differences were evident, including a significantly lower proportion of Hispanics, uninsured patients, noncitizens, and those with less education. Overall, almost three times as many women received testing than men (73 percent versus 27 percent).

Three-quarters of reported genetic testing was for breast/ovarian cancer, one-quarter for colorectal cancer, and 22 percent for other cancers. There were no gender disparities for colorectal or other cancer testing, but for testing for breast/ovarian cancer, men underwent at one-tenth the rate of women.

"Previous theories for underutilization of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer testing in men include lack of patient and clinician awareness on the importance of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer mutation status—despite the risks of male breast, pancreatic, melanoma, and aggressive prostate cancers," write the authors led by Kimberly Childers, a genetic counselor at Providence Health & Services Southern California, Los Angeles. "Large national efforts, including educational campaigns targeting male HBOC testing, must address this disparity to enable uniform opportunities for cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment for all at-risk individuals and their family members."

Takeaway: Some groups remain underrepresented in receipt of cancer genetic testing, including men for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer testing.