Black women with ovarian cancer continue to face worse outcomes than their White counterparts, and researchers say a lack of representation in genetic studies may be part of the problem. At the 15th Biennial Rivkin Center Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium, experts highlighted persistent disparities in survival, access to care, and genomic understanding.
According to SEER data from 2012 to 2018, Black women had a 41% five-year survival rate compared to 49% for White women, regardless of when the cancer was diagnosed. While mortality rates are declining overall, the pace of improvement is slower for Black women.
One major concern is the high proportion of “variants of uncertain significance” in genes linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer among Black individuals. These ambiguous results can limit access to targeted treatments. Dr. Katherine Lawson-Michod noted that Black patients are less likely to be referred for genetic testing, complete testing, or undergo preventive surgery—even when they carry a known risk variant.
Research on homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), a key factor in treatment decisions, has also been largely based on White populations. This leaves critical gaps in understanding how HRD functions in tumors from Black patients.
Ongoing studies like ORCHiD, KPROCS, and AACES aim to address these disparities by examining healthcare access, tumor biology, and treatment outcomes. But researchers stress that more inclusive data collection and diverse recruitment are essential to closing the gap.
See: “Ovarian cancer health disparities: 15th Biennial Rivkin Center Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium” (August 13, 2025)
