Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Introduction: Because disparities in prostate cancer (PCa) incidence and outcomes extend across social and racial strata, identifying barriers to care and facilitating early detection propose pathways to enhance survival among vulnerable populations. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s community outreach initiative, called the Game Changer (GC), provides a platform for mobile prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening to vulnerable populations and presents an opportunity to learn more about factors that contribute towards disparities in PCa. Methods: In-house software (SCAN360) developed at the University of Miami uses county level data to identify populations that are experiencing disproportionate cancer burden, defining the catchment area for focused outreach in Miami-Dade and neighboring counties. In September 2022, GC began PCa screening and data collection across three pilot sites and continues to expand regionally. This study describes the early experience of mobile PCa screening in South Florida and provides and demographic and clinical breakdown of the patients who participated. Results: As one of three mobile PSA screening clinics globally, GC aims to screen a minimum of 250 men within medically underserved communities over the next six months. As of this submission, 41 men have been screened - 83% reported being African American and 10% Hispanic or Latino. About 22% had a PSA > 3, requiring further testing which will occur via community partners who engage with GC. Men requesting PCa screening through GC are invited to participate in a research protocol that involves bio-specimen collection (blood, urine, and saliva) for future epigenetic and biomarker research. Men are also asked to fill surveys that measure known risk factors, barriers to care, and current attitudes toward PCa screening. Conclusions: The GC is one of a few mobile PCa screening clinics in the world. It targets at risk populations using novel data driven software and provides an opportunity to provide care to vulnerable populations and learn more about the drivers of disparities in PCa incidence and care. SOURCE OF Funding: This research was supported by a U01 award from the NCI (U01CA239141) and Paps Corps Champions for Cancer Research Endowed Chair for Solid Tumor Research.
