A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) reveals increased disparities in survival based on health insurance status among individuals newly diagnosed with advanced cancers in the United States following the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
These ICIs, first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011, have significantly improved survival rates for cancer patients but come with a high cost. Unfortunately, individuals without health insurance coverage may struggle to afford these life-saving treatments.
Dr. Jingxuan Zhao, senior associate scientist in health services research at the American Cancer Society, emphasized the need for policies to enhance health insurance coverage options and make new treatments more accessible. The study analyzed data from patients diagnosed with stage IV cancer aged 18-64 years old, focusing on cancers with FDA approval for ICI treatment, including melanoma, HR+/HER- female breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Among the findings:
– For melanoma patients, 2-year survival increased from 17.5% before ICI approval to 24.4% after approval among uninsured individuals, compared to an increase from 29.6% to 41.8% among those with private health insurance.
– In stage IV NSCLC cases, the disparity by health insurance widened.
– Similarly, for stage IV RCC patients, the gap in survival rates between uninsured and insured individuals also increased.
This study underscores the urgent need to address health disparities and ensure equitable access to life-extending treatments for all cancer patients.
See “Increased Disparities in Cancer Survival by Health Insurance Status After Introduction of Immunotherapy” (June 3, 2024)
