Japanese American Cancer Biomarker Survey

Too many cancer patients are missing out on treatments that could be tailor-made for them, and a new survey we conducted suggests this is a real problem in the Japanese American community.

As part of our Japanese American Initiative, GCCA partnered with Genentech to survey Japanese American cancer patients and caregivers about their experiences with biomarker testing — a type of testing that analyzes a tumor's unique genetic and biological characteristics to help doctors identify the most effective, personalized treatment options.

The results were eye-opening.

Most People Either Hadn't Been Tested or Didn't Know

Of the people who responded to our survey:

• Only 30% confirmed they had received biomarker testing
• 39% said they had not been tested
• 30% weren't even sure

That means roughly 7 in 10 respondents either skipped this testing or had no idea whether they'd had it. That's a big deal, because biomarker testing can open the door to targeted therapies that are often more effective and come with fewer side effects than traditional treatments.

The Information Gap Is Just as Concerning

When we dug into why so many people weren't getting tested, education came up as a major barrier. Only 44% of respondents learned about biomarkers from their oncologist or physician. And more than a third, 37%, said they hadn't learned about biomarkers from any of the sources we listed.

That tells us this isn't just a testing problem. It's a communication problem.

When Testing Happens, It Helps

Here's the encouraging part: among those who did receive biomarker testing, 59% said it directly affected their treatment. And 82% reported that their results were explained to them and discussed with their healthcare team.

So when patients get access to testing and the support to understand their results, it makes a real difference. The challenge is getting more people there in the first place.

What We're Doing About It

These findings reinforce what we already believed: meeting patients where they are — culturally, linguistically, and clinically — is essential. The Japanese American community, like many communities of color, faces unique barriers to accessing the latest advances in cancer care.

GCCA hopes to use these findings as a starting point to better understand what kinds of educational resources and outreach might help, and to explore how we can work with healthcare providers to improve communication around precision medicine.

As GCCA President Nicole Sheahan put it: "Every cancer patient deserves to understand this option."

This survey was conducted as part of GCCA's Japanese American Initiative, with support from Genentech. Respondents included cancer survivors and caregivers, with breast cancer being the most common diagnosis (58%), followed by stomach, prostate, and colorectal cancers. Year of diagnosis ranged from 2001 to 2024.

Want to learn more about biomarker testing? Check out knowyourbiomarker.org