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Background: Prostate cancer affects African American men disproportionately compared with men of other racial/ethnic groups. To identify biological bases for this health disparity, we sought to create a state-wide biobank of African American prostate cancer survivors in Florida. Methods: African American men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2013 and 2017 and living in Florida at diagnosis were identified through the State of Florida's cancer registry. Individuals were approached via mail and telephone, assessed for eligibility, and asked for informed consent. χ2 and t tests were conducted to identify differences between eligible and reachable individuals (i.e., had valid contact information) versus consented participants. Results: Of the 5,960 eligible and reachable individuals, 3,904 were eligible and contacted at least once, and 578 consented [overall consent rate = 10% (578/5,960); adjusted consent rate = 15% (578/3,904)]. Statistically significant (Ps < 0.05) but small differences in demographic and clinical variables were observed. Consented participants were less likely to be older than 64 (35% vs. 41%) and less likely to have received radiotherapy (36% vs. 41%) and hormone therapy (16% vs. 21%), but more likely to have regional prostate cancer (13% vs. 11%) and have undergone surgery (44% vs. 39%). Consented participants did not differ from reachable individuals on other demographic and clinical factors (Ps > 0.05). Conclusions: Recruiting African American prostate cancer survivors to biobanking research through a cancer registry is feasible. However, the consent rate was low, and existing challenges limit consent and participation. Impact: Strategies for overcoming barriers to informed consent and increasing participation in biospecimen research are needed to address cancer disparities.

Background: In the past decade, colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rates have increased among young adults (YAs) 18-39 years old. Cancer can be uniquely challenging for YAs, as common cancer-related life disruptions co-occur with rapid social and emotional development and can contribute to low health-related quality of life (HRQOL), or overall well-being. The goal of this study was to examine HRQOL at several timepoints among YA CRC patients enrolled in the multi-site ColoCare Study and compare HRQOL between YA and older adult CRC patients. Methods: ColoCare is a large cohort study of newly diagnosed CRC patients. Participants complete patient-reported outcomes (PRO) surveys and provide biomarker samples prospectively from the time of diagnosis until 24 months (m). This analysis leveraged PRO data collected across six ColoCare sites at baseline (enrollment), 3m, 6m, 12m, and 24m. HRQOL was assessed with the EORTC-QLQ C30, which includes a global QOL subscale, five functional subscales (physical, role, emotional, cognitive, social), and nine symptom subscales (fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, financial difficulties). Age at diagnosis was categorized as YA (18-39 years old), average onset (AO; 40-64 years old), or late onset (LO; ≥65 years old). T-tests were used to compare HRQOL scores between age groups at each timepoint. Results: The sample included n=87 YA (5%), n=873 AO (52%), and n=712 LO (43%) CRC patients. YA CRC patients were an average of 33.75 years old (SD=4.73) and most were female (53%), White (80%), and diagnosed with stage III or IV CRC (59%). Relative to AO CRC patients, YAs reported better physical function at baseline (p=0.014) and 24m (p=0.044), less fatigue at 24m (p=0.027), and better global QOL at 24m (p=0.004). Relative to LO patients, YAs reported better global QOL at baseline (p=0.039) and 24m (p=0.001), better physical function at baseline (p Conclusion: Across the first two years post-CRC diagnosis, YA patients reported better HRQOL than AO and LO patients in several domains, including better physical function, less fatigue, and better global QOL. However, YAs also reported worse financial difficulties, worse social and emotional function, and worse nausea/vomiting and appetite loss relative to LO patients. These findings suggest the need for age-specific emotional, social, and symptom management support for YA CRC patients. Citation Format: Amanda Michelle Bloomer, Gillian Trujillo, Maria Gomez, Xiaoyin Li, Heather S. Jim, Jennifer Ose, Jane C. Figueiredo, Adetunji Toriola, Christopher I. Li, David Shibata, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Martin Schneider, Biljana Gigic, Laura B. Oswald, Erin M. Siegel. Health-related quality of life among newly diagnosed young adult colorectal cancer patients: results from the ColoCare Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 3049.