Liquid Biopsy for Cancer Screening in Li-Fraumeni Syndrome: Interest in Clinical Trial and Reported Barriers to...

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a cancer predisposition syndrome associated with significant lifelong risk of cancer, and individuals with LFS undergo recommended screening protocols that are heavily dependent upon radiologic imaging. Recently, liquid biopsy has emerged as a potential new screening technique for LFS. In this study, we conducted a survey of adults with LFS and caregivers of children with LFS to determine interest in a clinical trial evaluating liquid biopsy as an addition to standard-of-care cancer screening. We also assessed barriers to receiving recommended screening and consequent financial toxicity. A total of 81 adults with LFS and 28 parents/guardians ("caregivers") of children with LFS responded to the survey. Of these, the majority (93%) were interested in the addition of liquid biopsy and were willing to have additional screening as frequently as every 3 months. Although most respondents were able to complete standard-of-care cancer screening as planned, more than a third reported financial barriers to completion of screening. Other reported barriers included scheduling, transportation, and stress around screening results. Additionally, approximately one fifths of adults and one fourths of parents/caregivers reported financial toxicity, with the most prevalent being food insecurity. These results provide data for feasibility and high participant interest in a clinical trial of liquid biopsy for cancer screening in LFS. Additionally, any clinical trial will require planning around barriers to existing screening protocols.

Liquid biopsy testing for circulating tumor DNA is a promising strategy for cancer screening. Prior to a clinical trial of liquid biopsy cancer screening in LFS, this prospective survey of individuals with LFS and their caregivers assessed trial interest and barriers to current standard-of-care screening practices.