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Background The objective of this study was to describe the perspective of patients with early breast cancer toward research biopsies. The authors hypothesized that more patients at academic sites than at community‐based sites would be willing to consider these procedures. Methods In total, 198 patients with early stage breast cancer were recruited from 3 academic centers (n = 102) and from 1 community oncology practice (n = 96). The primary objective was to compare the proportion of patients willing to consider donating excess tissue biospecimens from surgery, from a clinically indicated breast biopsy, or from a research purposes‐only biopsy (RPOB) between practice types. Results Most patients (93% at academic sites, 94% at the community oncology site) said they would consider donating excess tissue from surgery for research. One‐half of patients from academic or community sites would consider donating tissue from a clinically indicated breast biopsy. On univariate analysis, significantly fewer patients from academic sites would consider an RPOB (22% at academic sites, 42% at the community site; P = .003); however, this difference was no longer significant on multivariate analysis (P = .96). Longer transportation times and unfavorable prior experiences were associated with less willingness to consider an RPOB on multivariate analysis. Significantly fewer patients from academic sites (14%) than from the community site (35%) would consider a research biopsy in a clinical trial (P = .04). Contributing to scientific knowledge, return of results, and a personal request by their physician were the strongest factors influencing patients' willingness to undergo research biopsies. Conclusions The current results rejected the hypothesis that more patients with early breast cancer at academic sites would be willing to donate tissue biospecimens for research compared with those at community oncology sites. These findings identify modifiable factors to consider in biobanking studies and clinical trials., In this study of the willingness of patients with early stage breast cancer to consider biospecimen collection procedures for the purposes of research, most patients were willing to provide blood samples for research but were less likely to consider percutaneous breast biopsies. Longer travel time to the clinic and adverse experiences with prior biopsies, but not treatment center type (academic versus community‐based center), were associated with less willingness to consider research biopsies.

Background. Tissue from research biopsies provides access to insights into tumor biology. We aimed to determine medical oncologists’ (MOs’) attitudes toward research biopsies in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Materials and Methods. A total of 309 breast MOs from National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers were invited to complete a self-administered survey about their attitudes toward approaching patients for research purpose-only biopsies (RPOBs), performed as a standalone procedure, or additional biopsies, performed with a clinically indicated biopsy. The MOs were asked to predict what proportion of their MBC patients would consider undergoing research biopsies. Results. Of the 309 MOs, 221 (72%) responded. Of these 221 MOs, 30 were ineligible, leaving 191 eligible responders. Nearly all the MOs reported they were comfortable approaching patients regarding research biopsies of blood or skin. One fifth of MOs were uncomfortable approaching patients for RPOBs of the breast. One half of MOs were uncomfortable approaching patients for RPOBs of the liver. A significant variation was found in the perceptions by MOs of their patients’ willingness to undergo research biopsies. The factors associated with increased comfort in approaching patients for research biopsies included fewer years in practice, caring for patients who had undergone recent research biopsies, and the predicted willingness of patients to consent to biopsies. The risk of a biopsy and biopsy-related pain were the most common reasons for reluctance to refer patients for research biopsies. Conclusion. Significant variation exists, even at NCI centers, in the comfort level of MOs in approaching MBC patients for research biopsies. MOs’ attitudes toward research biopsies might be a modifiable factor in increasing tissue collection for research. Implications for Practice: Tissue-based research is critical in advancing our understanding of cancer biology, and obtaining tissue from a research biopsy provides an essential resource. This study demonstrates the variability of oncologists’ attitudes toward research biopsies and elicits factors associated with increased comfort levels with approaching patients for research biopsies. Biopsy risk and biopsy-related pain were commonly cited reasons not to refer patients for research biopsies. If the risk of a research biopsy is deemed sufficiently low enough to be acceptable, oncologists’ attitudes might be a potential target for education and change, which may assist in increasing the availability of tissue for cancer research.

Background: Patients (pts) with breast cancer treated with neo-adjuvant therapy on clinical trials are often asked to consent to pre-treatment and on-treatment research biopsies. There is increasing interest in obtaining tissue samples at similar time points in pts treated with neo-adjuvant therapy outside of clinical trials. However, medical oncologists’ (MOs) attitudes towards approaching pts about research biopsies in this setting are unknown. Methods: Three hundred and nine academic breast MOs identified from websites of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) – designated cancer centers were asked to complete a survey either by paper or online. Eligible MOs (MOs who saw breast cancer pts and who saw pts >4 hours/week.) were asked to predict what proportion of their pts with newly diagnosed, non-metastatic breast cancer would consent to research purposes only biopsies (RPOBs) i.e., biopsies with no clinical benefit to pt. Median values are reported. Two-sided Fisher’s exact test was used to compare categorical variables using a α level of .05. Results: Of 221 (101F,85M, 5 unknown) MOs who completed the survey, 30 MOs were ineligible (response rate=221/309,72%). Median age was 50 (Range 33-80). Median years of oncology experience was 15 (Range 1-45). MOs predicted that 14%, 63% and 21% of their pts would definitely/probably, maybe, probably not/definitely not consent to a RPOB of the breast. Forty-one percent, 34%, 19%, 3% of MOs were very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable, and very uncomfortable asking pts to consent to RPOBs respectively. The only factor associated with increased comfort discussing an RPOB was MOs’ years in practice. MOs with fewer years (15 years) (Adjusted RR=1.2, p =0.02). Gender, number of pts enrolled onto clinical trials, and MOs with pts who had research biopsies in the last 3 months was not associated with increased comfort. MOs who were more comfortable in approaching pts for RPOBs were associated with estimating a larger proportion of their pts as willing to undergo RPOB. For example, nearly one third of MOs who were very comfortable with approaching pts for RPOBs estimated that greater than 50% of their pts would consent to research biopsies. In contrast, nearly all the MOs who were very uncomfortable with approaching pts for RPOBs estimated that less than 25% of their pts would consent to research biopsies. The 3 most common reasons why MOs were reluctant to consent pts for a RPOB include pain/discomfort of a biopsy (59%), risk of a biopsy procedure complication, (44%), and inconvenience to the pt (33%). Conclusions: Academic breast MO’s predicted that fewer than 1 in 5 women with newly diagnosed, non-metastatic breast cancer would definitely or probably agree to a request for an RPOB outside of the context of a therapeutic trial, and approximately one-quarter of MOs expressed discomfort in approaching pts for such procedures. Our results have important implications regarding the feasibility of such research efforts, and identify potential barriers to target for intervention. Citation Format: Davinia SE Seah, Sarah Scott, Hao Guo, Julie Najita, Ruth Lederman, Elizabeth Frank, Jessica Sohl, Zsofia Stadler, Stuart G Silverman, Jeffrey Peppercorn, Eric P Winer, Steve E Come, Nancy U Lin. Attitudes of medical oncologists towards research breast biopsies in patients with newly diagnosed stage I-III breast cancer not enrolled in a clinical trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-17-01.