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Knowledge and attitudes toward prostate cancer germline genetic testing among Hispanic males

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

Hispanic/Latinx males and those who are non-English proficient are significantly less likely to receive germline genetic evaluation for prostate cancer. Undertesting can impact downstream outcomes, including reduced access to approved targeted therapies, barriers to precision medicine trials, and hereditary cancer assessment for patients and family members. The goal of our study was to explore the knowledge and perceptions of genetic testing among U.S. Hispanic males, with the ultimate goal to identify potentially actionable targets to increase guideline-concordant genetic evaluation.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide online survey including U.S. Hispanic males aged ≥ 40 in English and Spanish using the 9-item Knowledge of Hereditary Prostate Cancer Scale and adapted questions about desire for more information from the Behavioral Beliefs about BRCA Genetic Counseling scale.

Results

Among 807 participants, the mean score for genetic knowledge was 5.8 out of 9, with gaps in understanding of incomplete penetrance of genes and maternal genetic inheritance. Medical mistrust and lower health literacy were associated with significantly lower knowledge of prostate cancer genetics. Overall, attitudes toward genetic counseling were favorable, with the majority of participants endorsing that it would help with decision-making, is concordant with cultural beliefs, and that they were interested in more information. Concerns about genetic evaluation included cost and impact for insurance.

Conclusions

Despite generally favorable attitudes toward genetic evaluation among Hispanic males, there are important knowledge gaps, including the importance of both maternal and paternal family history, as well as logistical concerns. Addressing these gaps through culturally targeted outreach may help to promote equitable uptake of germline genetic evaluation.

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Data availability

Data are available for health/medical/biomedical research purposes. Interested investigators are required to submit a formal letter of intent outlining research aims, rationale, and approach, along with documentation of local IRB approval. A Data Use Agreement must be signed by the institutions involved before any data is released.

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Funding

Supported by a grant from the Department of Defense (HT94252311040).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA

    Jasmine Saunders, Adrian Rivera, Tatiana Sanchez Nolasco, Mariana Rangel Camacho, Nataliya Byrne & Stacy Loeb

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Veda N. Giri

  3. Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    Susan T. Vadaparampil

  4. Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA

    Adrian Rivera, Tatiana Sanchez Nolasco, Mariana Rangel Camacho, Nataliya Byrne, Michele Santacatterina & Stacy Loeb

Authors
  1. Jasmine Saunders
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  2. Veda N. Giri
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  3. Susan T. Vadaparampil
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  4. Adrian Rivera
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  6. Mariana Rangel Camacho
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  8. Michele Santacatterina
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  9. Stacy Loeb
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Contributions

Conceptualization (SL, VNG, and SV), Project administration (TSN, MRC, and NB), Statistical analysis (AR and MS), Data interpretation (All authors), Writing—original draft (JS and SL), Writing-review and editing (All authors), Funding acquisition (SL, VNG, and SV).

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stacy Loeb.

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Competing interests

SL reports consulting with Astellas, Blue Earth, Endo, Savor Health, and Doceree, and research funding from Endo, unrelated to current study. VNG reports grant funding from the Department of Defense and Prostate Cancer Foundation; stock ownership in Novopyxis (unrelated to the current study).

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Saunders, J., Giri, V.N., Vadaparampil, S.T. et al. Knowledge and attitudes toward prostate cancer germline genetic testing among Hispanic males. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41391-025-01008-0

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