A common blood test for ovarian cancer, known as CA-125, may miss some Black and Native American patients, delaying their treatment. This finding, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights the ongoing issue of medical tests contributing to healthcare disparities.
Researchers analyzed data from over 200,000 women with ovarian cancer and found that Black and Native American patients were 23% less likely to have elevated CA-125 levels at diagnosis compared to white patients.
Dr. Anna Jo Smith of the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school, the study’s lead author, emphasized that the test’s performance varies across different racial groups. This discrepancy may be due to a harmless genetic variation more common in people of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and West Indian descent. Initial studies of the CA-125 test, conducted in the 1980s, did not account for racial differences, as they were primarily based on white populations.
The study underscores the need for healthcare providers to be cautious when interpreting CA-125 test results, especially for minority patients. Dr. Shannon Westin of MD Anderson Cancer Center, who was not involved in the research, noted that doctors should not be entirely reassured by a normal test result in these populations. This awareness is crucial for ensuring timely referrals and treatments, ultimately improving survival rates for Black and Native American women with ovarian cancer.
Addressing these disparities requires a concerted effort to develop more inclusive diagnostic tools and healthcare practices that consider the diverse genetic backgrounds of all patients.
See: “Blood test for ovarian cancer misses some Black, Native American patients: Study” (March 20, 2025)
