1545 Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has established guidelines delineating appropriate candidates for genetic counseling. While genetic predisposition is responsible for a small percentage of cancer, genetic referral at diagnosis may effect treatment decisions. We aim to determine factors associated with timing of referral in women with breast and gynecologic cancers. Methods: Patients from an academic women’s oncology program were identified who met a subset of NCCN referral criteria for genetic evaluation between 2004-2010 (ovarian cancer at any age, breast cancer ≤ 50 years of age, or uterine cancer < 50 years of age). A retrospective chart review was conducted. Statistics were analyzed using SAS v. 9.2 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC); categorical variables were compared by chi-square or Fisher's exact test and continuous variables were compared by ANOVA. The study was approved by the hospital Institutional Review Board. Results: 820 women with cancer (26% uterine, 38% breast, 35% ovarian) were included. The overall referral rate was 22%; more breast than gynecologic cancer patients were referred (34% vs. 28%, p<0.0001). Breast cancer patients were more often referred at diagnosis compared to women with uterine (p<0.0001) and ovarian cancer (p=0.007). Early stage breast cancer patients were more often referred at diagnosis compared to women with late stages (p=0.03). Among ovarian cancer patients, those with late stages were more often referred at diagnosis compared to women with early stages (p=0.02). Age at diagnosis, family history, and parity were not associated with timing of referral. Among women with breast cancer, 26% of referred patients had a prophylactic contralateral mastectomy compared to 8% of those not referred (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Genetic counseling is underutilized in breast and gynecologic malignancies. The timing of referral varies widely and genetic counseling may impact treatment decisions. Breast cancer diagnosis, early stage breast cancer, and late stage ovarian cancer are associated with earlier referral for genetic evaluation. Further research is needed to determine additional factors that may increase referral rates and impact timing of referral.
240P A multinational real-world study on HR+, HER2- early stage breast cancer patients' disease awareness, satisfaction, and involvement in treatment decisions
