A recent study has unveiled concerning disparities in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) among Black and white patients. The research, presented at the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities, found that Black patients with metastatic TNBC were significantly less likely to receive immunotherapy compared to their white counterparts.
Between 2019 and 2021, only 28.1% of Black patients with metastatic TNBC received immunotherapy, compared to 35.5% of white patients. Even after accounting for clinical and socioeconomic factors, Black patients remained 37% less likely to receive this potentially life-saving treatment.
Jincong Q. Freeman, MPH, a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago, highlighted the importance of these findings. “Understanding these elements is key to developing strategies or interventions to ensure equitable access to immunotherapy and to mitigate the known racial/ethnic disparities in TNBC outcomes,” Freeman stated.
The study also revealed that patients enrolled in Medicare and those receiving care through comprehensive community programs were less likely to receive immunotherapy. This underscores the need for expanding insurance coverage, lowering healthcare costs, and improving treatment distribution and access, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Encouragingly, when Black patients did receive immunotherapy, their survival rates were similar to those of white patients. This suggests that addressing the disparity in access could help reduce racial differences in TNBC outcomes.
As immunotherapy becomes a standard treatment option for TNBC, these findings emphasize the urgent need to address racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care. Ensuring equitable access to cutting-edge treatments like immunotherapy is crucial in the fight against aggressive cancers like TNBC.
See “Black Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer May Be Less Likely to Receive Immunotherapy” (September 24, 2024)
